

Big Ideas in App Architecture
Cockroach Labs
Cockroach Lab’s Big Ideas in App Architecture is a podcast for architects and engineers building modern data-intensive applications and systems. In every weekly episode, an innovator joins the show to share useful insights from their experiences building reliable, scalable, maintainable systems. Welcome to Big Ideas in App Architecture!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 15, 2024 • 1h 3min
Cloud Architecture in the Public Sector: Balancing Innovation and Security
Ever wondered how cloud architecture works in the public sector? In this episode, David Joy is joined by Nik Mayer, Principal Cloud Architect at Maximus, a company that partners with state, federal and local governments to provide critical health and human service programs. Nick discusses his journey into cloud architecture, emphasizing the impact of public cloud on innovation and accessibility. He also highlights the key differences between private and public sector cloud strategies, focusing on the heightened security and compliance requirements of government agencies.Key takeaways from the episode include:The importance of cloud computing in the public sectorThe challenges of migrating legacy systems to the cloudThe importance of balancing cost optimization with performance in federal cloud deploymentsThe value of continuous learning and diverse experiences in staying current with the rapidly evolving tech landscape

Oct 1, 2024 • 51min
GenAI Meets Celebrity: Inside Cameo’s Journey from Startup to Stardom
This week, David is joined by Dom Scandinaro, CTO at Cameo, the platform that allows users to send personalized videos from celebrities and creators. Scandinaro gives an in-depth overview of Cameo’s rapid growth from a simple idea into a robust and deeply personalized fan experience platform with the digital infrastructure to match. Join us as we discuss:How Cameo’s tech stack has evolved as the company expands globallyWhy leaders need to have an in-depth understanding of their team’s abilities and limitationsHow Cameo is harnessing Generative AI for new products and platform features.

Sep 17, 2024 • 56min
The Journey From Mainframe to Adopting Generative AI With Equifax’s Senior Network Architect
In this episode, our host David Joy speaks with Samarth Shah, Senior Network Architect at Equifax to learn about the steps they took to modernize from the mainframe to the cloud, as well as the impact AI has on the industry.Join as we also discuss:The limitations of the mainframe and what enterprises need to consider when moving towards a cloud architecture.How to address modern security challenges including IAM controls, network segmentation, and DDoS protection.Innovative use cases for generative AI in network security, including how to automate defensive actions during cyber incidents.

Aug 6, 2024 • 46min
Modernizing Your Cloud Strategy with OneStream’s Senior VP of Cloud Architecture
In this episode, we dive into the heart of cloud architecture, disaster recovery, observability, and more with OneStream’s Senior VP of Cloud Architecture, Ryan Berry. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or finance professional, this episode offers indispensable knowledge on navigating modern cloud landscapes and optimizing financial software solutions.Join as we discuss:The importance of learning new cloud patterns for cost-effectiveness and higher migration success.The intricacies of scaling infrastructure, particularly during high-demand scenarios such as month-end and quarterly financial modeling.What companies need to consider when adopting the cloud.

Jul 23, 2024 • 51min
Driving digital transformation with Chief Architect at Altimetrik, Ignacio Segovia
In this episode, David is joined by Head of Product Engineering and Chief Architect at Altimetrik, Ignacio Segovia. From revolutionizing product engineering to harnessing the power of cloud technologies, Ignacio breaks down the themes of digital transformation in today's rapidly evolving landscape, and how Altimetrik fosters cultural alignment and innovation on their engineering teams.Join as we discuss:How Altimetrik approaches modernization and product engineering efforts across industries including financial services, payments, and more.The importance of user satisfaction and how it drives technical decision-making across every architectural layer.Insights into building high-performance teams, including Ignacio’s hiring principles and interview questions

Jul 9, 2024 • 45min
Discussing the Patterns of Distributed Systems with Unmesh Joshi
Unmesh Joshi, Principal Consultant at Thoughtworks, talks about key concepts in distributed systems, the inspiration behind his book, and future technical predictions. The podcast delves into fault tolerance, consistency models, consensus algorithms, and the challenges of understanding distributed systems.

Jun 25, 2024 • 36min
Scaling for 2 Billion Events Per Day with Principal Software Engineer at Red Ventures
With a growing library of media properties including CNET, Lonely Planet, and Bankrate, Red Ventures’ data platform has scaled from handling 16 million events per day to nearly 2 billion. To dive into the evolution of their architecture and understand how data effortlessly travels through their systems, our host David Joy sat down with Principal Software Engineer Majid Fatemian.Join as we discuss:Why Red Ventures migrated from SQL Server to Amazon RedshiftHow the data landscape has changed over the last two decadesThe challenges every leader should expect when running a data platformMajid’s time at Ubisoft and his involvement in one of David’s favorite games, Far Cry 2

Jun 11, 2024 • 49min
Enabling a data-driven and innovative engineering culture at Amplitude
For the engineering team at digital analytics company Amplitude, real-time customer feedback and cutting-edge Northstar metrics play a significant role in helping them adapt their tech stack and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.To learn more about the innovative approaches at Amplitude, we sat down with their SVP of Engineering, Shadi Rostami, for a discussion on the significance of ownership, accountability, and a founder's mindset in shepherding a company's growth.Join as we discuss: Developing a growth mindset to enable a successful engineering careerShadi’s engineering principles including “ship fast with quality”How to scale platforms through informed data-driven prioritization and strategic product focus

May 28, 2024 • 43min
How to Simplify Your Software Architecture
Modernizing database infrastructure can solve more than just data problems. It can also simplify your software architecture and the way your engineering organization works.In this episode, David sits down with technical evangelist, Rob Reid from Cockroach Labs, to discuss the importance of architectural simplification through proven patterns, real-world examples, and practical use cases. Join as we discuss:The benefits of simplifying your data architectureWhy you should think of regulations as part of your architectureHow in some cases, running a database across three data centers can be cheaper than twoWhat to know about selecting the right database for your use case

May 14, 2024 • 41min
Behind the scenes with Vimeo’s Director of Enterprise Architecture
“Customer experience is top priority, if the customer isn’t happy and you scale it, it doesn’t matter, nobody's gonna use it!”This week, David is joined by Sachin Joshi, Director of Enterprise Architecture at Vimeo, to discuss customer experience as the north star of architecture work, the evolution and impact of AI, and Vimeo's code-to-cash process for business efficiency. Join us as we discuss:Vimeo's enterprise architecture, integration, and automationHow to prioritize customer experience when scaling applicationsMonolithic vs microservices architecture


