Cloud-Native Data Without Starting Over
dotnet explains patterns for modernizing data and migrating line-of-business applications incrementally, focusing on moving the database first and evolving the app through stable API layers and modern data access approaches.
Overview
This session focuses on practical approaches to application modernization where the data layer can be migrated to the cloud ahead of a full application rewrite.
Problem framing: why “rebuild it” is often unrealistic
Many line-of-business applications are tightly coupled to their databases, which makes cloud migration feel:
- Risky
- Expensive
- Disruptive
Core idea: move the database first, then evolve the application
The talk proposes incremental migration patterns intended to avoid:
- A full rewrite
- “Lift and pray” migrations
- Architectural chaos
- A solution made up of compromises and workarounds
Patterns and techniques highlighted
The session highlights using:
- Stable API layers to decouple application components from the underlying database
- Modern data access patterns to support incremental evolution
- New tooling to support migration strategies that work with real systems, budgets, and engineering teams