The Edge: Hype vs. Reality

In this inaugural episode of Databased, Tom Redman speaks with Jamie Turner and James Cowling, diving deep into the world of edge computing and its impact on modern web development.

Key Topics Discussed:

-What is "the edge" in computing, and why has it become a buzzword?
-The evolution of edge computing from useful technology to overhyped solution
-Physical limitations of distributed systems, including the speed of light
-Challenges of maintaining data consistency across distributed locations
-Use cases where edge computing makes sense vs. where it adds unnecessary complexity
-The importance of co-locating compute with data for most applications
-How platforms can leverage edge technology without burdening developers

Key Takeaways:

-Edge computing isn't inherently bad, but it’s often not the right solution for most applications
-The laws of physics (speed of light) create fundamental limitations for distributed systems
-Co-locating compute with data often provides better performance than edge computing for data-intensive applications
-Developers should focus on building features quickly rather than prematurely optimizing with complex distributed systems
-Platforms should abstract away the complexities of edge computing, allowing developers to focus on building their applications

Quotes:

#1.)
"Edge computing was touted as the ultimate solution, but we've hit a reality check—it's not the cloud, and it's not a miracle cure." – Tom Redman

#2.)
"The idea of having a server closer to you than your mailbox sounded great, but the reality is most of our data is still sitting in Virginia." – Jamie Turner

#3.)
"When hype runs up against the laws of physics, you get growing pains. Edge computing is facing that exact challenge." – James Cowling

#4.)
"Ultimately, the source of truth for data has to live in a single physical location. Distributed systems are complex and often not worth the trade-off." – James Cowling

[CREATE-ooxg]

Why is the lighting so good? Great stuff! Can’t wait to listen to the whole episode

[StarCourtesan]

Thanks for putting it on youtube as well :)

[oscklm]

Enjoyed it. Would love more episodes. Perfect for listening to on the commute to the office.

[NicePipsForex]

I am a huge fan of the convex project. I use it very well and almost the only one I have seen in my country. I want represent convex in my country Mozambique and in Africa if possible