Interested in serverless Dapr? Diagrid Catalyst has you covered, and it's free to use. In this webinar, Kendall Roden, Catalyst product manager, demonstrates how Dapr 1.15 has evolved the Catalyst APIs, introducing streaming pub/sub, managed workflows, and AWS IAM integration.

Kendall demonstrates the capabilities provided by the Workflow, Pub/Sub, and State APIs through a Python-based loan broker application. You can check out the GitHub repo and run it for yourself here.

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Do you prefer to read than to watch? Here is a summary of the video contents:

Serverless Dapr on AWS: Unlocking the Potential of Catalyst

As the demands of microservices and serverless architecture evolve, Serverless Dapr on AWS  streamline microservice development while maintaining robust, scalable systems.

Dapr and Catalyst: Empowering Microservice Development

Dapr (Distributed Application Runtime), a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) graduate, is designed to simplify microservice application development by abstracting common patterns like service invocation, state management, and pub/sub messaging. With version 1.15 on the horizon, the spotlight is on Catalyst, a managed API platform that abstracts the traditional Kubernetes sidecar setup.

For application developers and platform engineers, Catalyst is a game-changer:

• Managed Abstractions: Catalyst provides seamless API integrations without requiring manual configuration of Kubernetes sidecars.
• Enhanced Security: It incorporates robust authentication mechanisms, including AWS IAM roles, eliminating the need for static credentials.
• Developer-Centric Features: Local development flows and dynamic runtime capabilities offer flexibility without compromising on control.

Key Innovations in Dapr 1.15 and Catalyst

1. Workflow Engine Enhancements
   • Stateful Workflow Support: Engineers can now manage state directly within workflows, enabling persistent and durable task handling.
   • SDK Diversity: Available SDKs in multiple languages ensure compatibility with existing tech stacks.
   • Bidirectional gRPC Streams: Simplifies workflow management across distributed systems.
2. Pub/Sub Updates
   • Transition from declarative to streaming subscriptions improves performance and allows dynamic runtime adjustments.
   • Native integration with AWS services like SNS and SQS ensures compatibility with existing enterprise systems.
3. Security and Authentication
   • Catalyst introduces AWS IAM Roles Anywhere, streamlining authentication without the need for passwords.
   • Role-based access scopes restrict app-specific permissions, bolstering component security.

Showcasing Real-World Applications: The Loan Broker Workflow

Kendall's demonstration of a loan broker application illustrates Catalyst’s capabilities in action:

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• Workflow Execution: From invoking credit bureau services to aggregating loan quotes, the workflow utilized a fan-out/fan-in pattern to handle concurrent activities.
• Visual Workflow Insights: The Catalyst UI provides real-time tracking of tasks and interactions, giving engineers a clear view of system behavior.

This use case underscores the ease of integrating Catalyst into complex, real-world systems while maintaining clarity and control.

Local Development with Catalyst

Catalyst’s local development support enables engineers to:

• Develop and test applications without the overhead of Kubernetes setups.
• Leverage a managed tunnel for connecting local applications to Catalyst workflows.
• Transition seamlessly between local and production environments.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Features

Catalyst’s roadmap promises exciting advancements, including:

• Expanded AWS Component Support: Expect integrations with S3, DynamoDB, and Kinesis, simplifying cross-service workflows.
• Streamlined Configurations: Tools like diagrid Dev scaffold and Dapr multi-run files will further reduce setup complexities.

Kendall also emphasized their commitment to continuous improvement, inviting feedback to shape new features and integrations.

Why This Matters for Platform Engineers

Dapr and Catalyst’s latest updates are tailored to meet the challenges faced by application platform engineers:

• Productivity Gains: Abstracting common patterns frees up time to focus on strategic infrastructure improvements.
• Flexibility: Dynamic runtime capabilities and extensive SDK support allow seamless adaptation to evolving requirements.
• Scalability: Performance improvements in workflows and pub/sub ensure reliability in high-load environments.

Conclusion

The advancements discussed in the "Serverless Dapr on AWS" session highlight a pivotal moment for platform engineering. As Dapr matures and Catalyst becomes more feature-rich, application platform engineers are better equipped than ever to drive innovation while maintaining operational excellence.

Experiment with these tools, experiment with local and cloud-based integrations, and share your insights with the Dapr and Catalyst communities to shape the future of microservices and serverless development.

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