Build with Catalyst: Legacy modernization using AppSail

TL;DR: To get started with legacy modernization using Catalyst AppSail, please check out these demo videos.  

Let's look at the next use-case in the Build with Catalyst series where we explore the legacy system modernization of applications using AppSail which supports independent applications of any popular framework. Based on your business needs, you can choose to leverage Catalyst for all your development needs and transfer your existing application from any external platform.

What is Catalyst AppSail?

AppSail is a highly-scalable platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that facilitates building and hosting powerful applications using popular frameworks in Java, Python, and Node.js.

Catalyst AppSail supports modern frameworks like the following:

• Python : Django, Flask, CherryPy, Bottle, Falcon, Pyramid, Tornado, and more.

• Java : SpringBoot, SpringMVC, Jetty, Struts, Vaadin, and more.

• Node.js : Express, HAPI, Koa, Restify, and more.

Legacy system modernization

Let's consider a manufacturing company that has been using an On-Premise machine for years to host and run a Java application that stores and maintains information related to various types of equipment. Now the company wants to open branches across the globe., Application scaling is arduous due to server provisioning limitations. Adopting a cloud platform like Catalyst to host the application, provides a seamless end-user experience since the applications scale quickly and offers high availability.

Why migrate a legacy application to cloud with AppSail

• Indefinite auto-scaling to support multiple offices or remote staff globally.

• Zero server maintenance

• High availability and uptime of cloud resources

• Better backup management

• No overhead IT costs related to server maintenance, provisioning, or licensing.

• Immediate software update with zero downtime

As a Catalyst partner, you can assist your customers to seamlessly migrate their on-premise application/s to cloud using Catalyst AppSail without worrying about their infrastructure management. AppSail provides a serverless platform to build applications using modern frameworks in Java, Python, and Node.js. AppSail entities are independent and can be engineered without any Catalyst-specific restrictions on the architecture.

Here's how you can use AppSail to migrate an On-premise Java application:

1. Assess your legacy applications: Begin by assessing your existing legacy applications and identifying the ones that need to be migrated. Consider factors like functionality, dependencies, data, security, and integration requirements.

2. Define a migration strategy: Define a strategy that allows a lift-and-shift approach to package your legacy Java application into a WAR file.

3. Export the Java application from the customer's On-Premise machine into a WAR file.

4. Import the WAR file using AppSail. Now, the application will be powered by Catalyst servers.

5. Once the application is migrated, test your application endpoints to ensure that the 3rd party integrations are intact. You could leverage the API testing tool in Catalyst to run test cases for the APIs.

This way, you can seamlessly migrate an on-premise application from your customer's manufacturing company to adopt a scalable application that has the best uptime without worrying about the server maintenance. The Catalyst components used in the solution include:  

• Catalyst Data Store: A cloud-based relational database management system for content management of manufacturing parts and equipment.

• Catalyst Cache : Temporary storage or caching service used to query temporary data faster.

• Catalyst File Store: A file object storage that can store images or other files used in a manufacturing company.

• Catalyst Logs: View detailed execution logs to troubleshoot the migrated application and perform root cause analysis.

• Catalyst Application Alerts: Any sudden exception in the application invocations can be tracked using App Alerts to send an alert email immediately.

We'd love to hear about your journey with Catalyst AppSail. Put on your creative hat, and share possible use cases with AppSail. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section or drop us a line for a detailed 1:1 session to help you get started.

Cheers,

Divyasree

The Catalyst Team