Introduction
Modernization is key to staying ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cloud security and compliance. At Cloudlytics, we continuously innovate to deliver a seamless customer experience. As part of this commitment, we recently embarked on a critical backend migration—upgrading from Java 8 to Java 17. This move was pivotal for improving performance, ensuring security, and future-proofing our platform. What initially seemed daunting was completed in record time, thanks to Amazon Q.
Why the Migration?
- Enhanced Performance: Java 17’s modern features promise better runtime efficiency.
- Security Updates: Java 8’s end of public updates posed a risk. Java 17 offered advanced security patches.
- Long-Term Support: As an LTS release, Java 17 ensures stability for years to come.
- Scalability: With new features like sealed classes and record types, Java 17 aligns with our vision of building a scalable platform.
However, the migration’s complexity was significant, involving 40+ backend modules, 100+ APIs, and a codebase exceeding 4 million lines of code.
Challenges We Faced
- Complex Code Base: Transitioning a large, interconnected codebase required careful handling of dependencies and library upgrades.
- Stringent Timelines: Initial estimates predicted a six-month effort, requiring significant resources.
- Comprehensive Testing: With security and compliance at the core of our business, thorough testing was non-negotiable.
- Resource Constraints: With a lean team, balancing the migration alongside ongoing operations was a challenge.
The Amazon Q Advantage
To address these challenges, we partnered with Amazon Q. These AI-powered tools streamlined the migration process by automating code analysis, refactoring, and testing.
How Amazon Q Helped:
- Automated Refactoring: Amazon Q analyzed our Java 8 codebase, identified incompatible patterns, and suggested optimized replacements for Java 17.
- Regression Testing: The tool provided comprehensive validation to ensure performance and stability post-migration.
- Resource Optimization: With Amazon Q’s assistance, the project required only 2 developers and 1 QA engineer, compared to a larger team initially planned.
Results Delivered in Just 6 Weeks
With Amazon Q, we achieved remarkable results:
- 4x Faster Migration: Completed the project in 6 weeks, compared to an estimated 6 months.
- Performance Gains: Applications now leverage Java 17’s modern features, resulting in better runtime efficiency.
- Stronger Security: Deprecated APIs and vulnerabilities were addressed, enhancing the overall security posture.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduced resource requirements and minimized operational costs while maintaining quality.
Business Impact
The migration positions Cloudlytics as a more robust, scalable, and secure platform. Our customers now benefit from improved performance and security, reinforcing our commitment to delivering cutting-edge cloud security and compliance solutions. This success also showcases the power of combining human expertise with automation tools to tackle large-scale modernization projects efficiently.
Conclusion
Migrating from Java 8 to Java 17 was not just a technical upgrade; it was a step toward redefining how we deliver value to our customers. With the support of Amazon Q, we turned a complex, resource-intensive project into a streamlined success story.
As we continue to innovate, this migration is a testament to our dedication to providing our customers with a modern, secure, and future-ready platform. Stay tuned for more updates as we evolve and enhance Cloudlytics to meet the demands of tomorrow.
