Buildpacks simplify the development process by converting source code into executable applications.

To gain further insights into this tool, we spoke with Ram Iyengar, the chief evangelist at the Cloud Foundry Foundation. Our discussion took place in the latest episode of our “What the Dev?” podcast.

Below is a condensed and edited version of our conversation:

How do buildpacks — and specifically Paketo Buildpacks — assist developers in deploying cloud native applications?

I believe buildpacks play a crucial role in streamlining the deployment and containerization of numerous applications, reducing the typical complexities associated with these processes. The significance of buildpacks has been extensively discussed in various forums, including a webinar and an article. Furthermore, buildpacks are on track for graduation within the CNCF in the upcoming six to 12 months. Community support, such as starring the GitHub repository, reporting critical issues, using the project, and providing feedback, is greatly encouraged to foster its development and improvement.

I’d also like to delve into Korifi, a platform designed for creating and deploying Kubernetes applications. Could you explain how Korifi integrates with buildpacks?

Indeed, buildpacks are predominantly utilized in the development of platforms on Kubernetes. The prevailing narrative around Kubernetes at events like KubeCon highlights its complexity, which has become a recurring theme discussed through memes and opinion pieces. To address this, some organizations have developed a platform that layers over Kubernetes, simplifying its complexities by shielding developers from the intricacies of Kubernetes internals. This approach aligns closely with the traditional Cloud Foundry ethos, striving to provide a seamless, self-service, multi-tenant experience, similar to VMs but tailored to Kubernetes needs. Essentially, this enables developers to efficiently build and deploy applications at high speeds while managing critical operational aspects like scaling, load balancing, and configuring networking and ingress.

All elements should aggregate toward a single mainstay. Thus, Korifi has been developed by the community to actualize such dynamics efficiently, with buildpacks harmonizing seamlessly within this framework. Leveraging buildpacks, which are primarily utilized by Korifi, has enabled a streamlined method for deploying applications on Kubernetes across various programming languages, maximizing the utility of buildpack features.

Korifi is extensively discussed alongside the broader narrative around the Cloud Foundry Foundation, which some perceive as outdated, potentially overshadowed by Kubernetes developments. How would you address this perspective? Moreover, what contributions does the Cloud Foundry Foundation make in the context of Kubernetes?

My response bifurcates into technological and communal considerations. Technologically, innovations are continuously sought by engineers desiring new tools and methodologies conducive to modern requirements. As a result, technologies like Cloud Foundry, once cutting-edge, are now occasionally labeled as archaic or inadequate against newer alternatives like Kubernetes, which has captured significant interest within the software development sphere. This transition reflects a broader human element, where there’s a collective inclination towards novel, hype-driven technologies. After the initial heightened expectations, as per Gartner’s analysis, the focus is now shifting towards productive employment of Kubernetes, simplifying its integration and reducing its inherent complexities, thus making application deployments more straightforward without the typical concerns associated with networking and scalability.

It’s not merely about developers pursuing new technologies; rather, it’s about acquiring better, more efficient tools that enhance job performance, thereby allowing greater focus on innovation without the encumbrances of infrastructural complexities. This underscores the significance of positioning Cloud Foundry as a beneficial resource for developers, enhancing their operational efficiency and workflow preferences.

Well, yes, I agree in principle, which is why I’m saying Cloud Foundry and some others like Heroku, they all perfected this experience of here’s what a developer’s workflow should be. Now, developers are happy to adopt new ways to work, but the problem is, when you’re on the path to gain that kind of efficiency and velocity, you often unintentionally build a lot of opinionated workflows around yourself. So, all developers will have a very specific way in which they’ll actually create deployments and create these immutable artifacts, and they’re going to build themselves a fort from where they’d like to be kings of the castle, lord of the manor, but it’s really assailing a lot of the mental image and any apprehensions that come from deviating from that mental image. And at the moment, Kubernetes seems to offer one of the best ways to build and package and deploy an app, given that it can accomplish so many different things.

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