January 3, 2017 at 18:11Solution Architecture in 2017: Interview with Eli Feldman, STO EPAM
Recently, Eli Feldman, CTO of EPAM, visited Ukraine. At CTO, Advanced Technology, Eli is responsible for centers of competence, for architectural disciplines, for the development of innovations based on “garages” (note auth. “Garage” or Garage - a high-tech laboratory for studying new technologies), as well as for the preparation of conferences for developers, and many other interesting initiatives. As part of Mr. Feldman’s visit, we discussed interesting projects and educational programs for Solution architects.
On New Year's Eve, it is customary to take stock. What interesting innovative projects in 2016 took place at EPAM in the context of different industries?
As part of the innovation program, we now have a lot of initiatives in “garages” in such areas as virtual and augmented reality, in particular around the new generation user interfaces. We also work with real interfaces, such as dialog interfaces, chat bots, etc. One of our customers is a well-known oil and gas company, for which we have created many high-tech solutions, including the preparation of 3D plans for mines for oil production. Such projects allow us to improve the oil production process by one more step.
Now we have a fairly large number of innovative projects in the field of the Internet of things (IoT). We develop solutions to translate various business initiatives into a single ecosystem, the so-called Connected Business. As part of IoT projects, we work with clients from various industries: retail, hospitality, ticket distribution (Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.)
Over the past few months, we have been focusing on the automotive industry. We think over and make prototypes of completely new concepts for transforming an ordinary car into a smart mobile device of the future.
Of course, all projects without exception require the participation of Solution Architects (SA).
What are the main trends in the work of Solution architects now in the world?
First of all, we are talking about new approaches to the development of software architectures. This is all related to microservices, as well as other modular approaches to architecture. This is talking about the back-end. Regarding Front-end technologies, we are trying to use the principle of modularity when creating an application so that users can use only the most important aspects of the application for them.
There is a very big trend of serverless architectures, lambda architectures, which more and more fill the modern sphere of Solution architecture. Of course, this is just an aspect of “Platform as a Service” (Platform as a Service), which allows you to create applications from separate blocks, rather than build new platforms from scratch.
What might interest EPAM Solution architects?
At EPAM, we are working on a large number of large-scale, complex projects. Speaking of Central and Eastern Europe, there is very little chance that an architect will be able to work on projects of this magnitude outside EPAM.
In order for an architect to grow and move to the next level, it is necessary to go through the stage of “right” projects. We are talking not only about cutting-edge technologies and technical product development, but also about the “right” modern customers. We are talking about those customers who win in the market, think and understand how they need to attract a client in the future, want to be successful, while working with EPAM to achieve their goals.
Tell me, what do you think is the ideal Solution architect? Is there such a thing?
In my understanding, the ideal architect is one who understands that he is not perfect, who is constantly learning to reach the next more advanced level. This person understands that the more he knows, the less he knows.
What educational projects are there in EPAM that can help Solution architects understand what knowledge is relevant right now?
On the one hand, we have a lot of them, on the other hand, we have not enough of them. Today, we have 4 main programs around Solution Architecture: Architecture Excellence Initiative , Solution Architecture University , Solution Architecture School and Solution Architecture Mentoring .
Architecture Excellence Initiativeexists since 2014. The goal of this initiative is to give architects new knowledge weekly.
Solution Architecture Universityfocuses primarily on providing teamwork between Solution architects. The program allows architects to speak the same language. First of all, it is a set of general terms and concepts that should be in architecture so that it can be effective both in terms of what we are implementing and in terms of the participation of several architects in the project. On the other hand, it is a team work that allows architects to find innovative solutions for specific tasks. Solution Architecture University is designed for level 1 and 2 architects who want to create a single vocabulary of terms for themselves and learn how to work in a team, as well as for those who see themselves as Solution architects in the future.
The new program that we launched in 2016 is calledArchitecture School Solution . Its main goal is to find specialists within the company who can and want to become architects, and accelerate this process through education, teamwork, motivation and mentoring. Over the past 6 months in Ukraine, 4 Solution Architecture Schools have passed. We are also thinking about how to build similar programs for other architecture disciplines: System Architecture, Quality Architecture, Domain Specific Architecture.
Also in the last quarter of 2016, we restarted Solution Architecture Mentoring . We consider this direction to be fundamentally important for the development of senior level specialists and providing opportunities to go up to the highest levels of Solution architecture - CTO levels.
Historically, the number of Solution architects in Ukraine is small. What are we doing at EPAM to rectify the situation? We educate employees within EPAM, thereby proving that all goals are achievable.
What can you advise the guys - Solution architects for further education. Perhaps some important conferences, books, video tutorials, blogs, podcasts?
All of the above. Self-education should be very versatile.
Speaking of conferences, it seems to me that the most useful conferences are practical conferences within specific areas of knowledge - JavaDay, Microsoft Devdays, which talk not about how "ships plow the open spaces of outer space" in large companies, but about how to solve complex applied technical issues. Local meetings are also very useful, facilitating the exchange of knowledge between colleagues in real mode in informal conditions.
Podcasts, webinars of analytical companies with which we have partnerships (Gartner and Forester), webinars from leading technology companies (Google, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix) are certainly useful.
It is important to monitor everything new, but not to be a “sponge” that simply incorporates everything. Architects must understand and filter out information. The most important thing is the desire to learn. If there is a desire - there is material.
What would you wish our architects for the New Year?
Not only to architects, but to everyone - health, happiness, joy, success, successful solution of interesting and difficult tasks in the new year. Always looking for yourself, open new horizons, technologies, approaches; learn things that you still don’t know, and be sure to use them in your projects.
On New Year's Eve, it is customary to take stock. What interesting innovative projects in 2016 took place at EPAM in the context of different industries?
As part of the innovation program, we now have a lot of initiatives in “garages” in such areas as virtual and augmented reality, in particular around the new generation user interfaces. We also work with real interfaces, such as dialog interfaces, chat bots, etc. One of our customers is a well-known oil and gas company, for which we have created many high-tech solutions, including the preparation of 3D plans for mines for oil production. Such projects allow us to improve the oil production process by one more step.
Now we have a fairly large number of innovative projects in the field of the Internet of things (IoT). We develop solutions to translate various business initiatives into a single ecosystem, the so-called Connected Business. As part of IoT projects, we work with clients from various industries: retail, hospitality, ticket distribution (Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.)
Over the past few months, we have been focusing on the automotive industry. We think over and make prototypes of completely new concepts for transforming an ordinary car into a smart mobile device of the future.
Of course, all projects without exception require the participation of Solution Architects (SA).
What are the main trends in the work of Solution architects now in the world?
First of all, we are talking about new approaches to the development of software architectures. This is all related to microservices, as well as other modular approaches to architecture. This is talking about the back-end. Regarding Front-end technologies, we are trying to use the principle of modularity when creating an application so that users can use only the most important aspects of the application for them.
There is a very big trend of serverless architectures, lambda architectures, which more and more fill the modern sphere of Solution architecture. Of course, this is just an aspect of “Platform as a Service” (Platform as a Service), which allows you to create applications from separate blocks, rather than build new platforms from scratch.
What might interest EPAM Solution architects?
At EPAM, we are working on a large number of large-scale, complex projects. Speaking of Central and Eastern Europe, there is very little chance that an architect will be able to work on projects of this magnitude outside EPAM.
In order for an architect to grow and move to the next level, it is necessary to go through the stage of “right” projects. We are talking not only about cutting-edge technologies and technical product development, but also about the “right” modern customers. We are talking about those customers who win in the market, think and understand how they need to attract a client in the future, want to be successful, while working with EPAM to achieve their goals.
Tell me, what do you think is the ideal Solution architect? Is there such a thing?
In my understanding, the ideal architect is one who understands that he is not perfect, who is constantly learning to reach the next more advanced level. This person understands that the more he knows, the less he knows.
What educational projects are there in EPAM that can help Solution architects understand what knowledge is relevant right now?
On the one hand, we have a lot of them, on the other hand, we have not enough of them. Today, we have 4 main programs around Solution Architecture: Architecture Excellence Initiative , Solution Architecture University , Solution Architecture School and Solution Architecture Mentoring .
Architecture Excellence Initiativeexists since 2014. The goal of this initiative is to give architects new knowledge weekly.
Solution Architecture Universityfocuses primarily on providing teamwork between Solution architects. The program allows architects to speak the same language. First of all, it is a set of general terms and concepts that should be in architecture so that it can be effective both in terms of what we are implementing and in terms of the participation of several architects in the project. On the other hand, it is a team work that allows architects to find innovative solutions for specific tasks. Solution Architecture University is designed for level 1 and 2 architects who want to create a single vocabulary of terms for themselves and learn how to work in a team, as well as for those who see themselves as Solution architects in the future.
The new program that we launched in 2016 is calledArchitecture School Solution . Its main goal is to find specialists within the company who can and want to become architects, and accelerate this process through education, teamwork, motivation and mentoring. Over the past 6 months in Ukraine, 4 Solution Architecture Schools have passed. We are also thinking about how to build similar programs for other architecture disciplines: System Architecture, Quality Architecture, Domain Specific Architecture.
Also in the last quarter of 2016, we restarted Solution Architecture Mentoring . We consider this direction to be fundamentally important for the development of senior level specialists and providing opportunities to go up to the highest levels of Solution architecture - CTO levels.
Historically, the number of Solution architects in Ukraine is small. What are we doing at EPAM to rectify the situation? We educate employees within EPAM, thereby proving that all goals are achievable.
What can you advise the guys - Solution architects for further education. Perhaps some important conferences, books, video tutorials, blogs, podcasts?
All of the above. Self-education should be very versatile.
Speaking of conferences, it seems to me that the most useful conferences are practical conferences within specific areas of knowledge - JavaDay, Microsoft Devdays, which talk not about how "ships plow the open spaces of outer space" in large companies, but about how to solve complex applied technical issues. Local meetings are also very useful, facilitating the exchange of knowledge between colleagues in real mode in informal conditions.
Podcasts, webinars of analytical companies with which we have partnerships (Gartner and Forester), webinars from leading technology companies (Google, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix) are certainly useful.
It is important to monitor everything new, but not to be a “sponge” that simply incorporates everything. Architects must understand and filter out information. The most important thing is the desire to learn. If there is a desire - there is material.
What would you wish our architects for the New Year?
Not only to architects, but to everyone - health, happiness, joy, success, successful solution of interesting and difficult tasks in the new year. Always looking for yourself, open new horizons, technologies, approaches; learn things that you still don’t know, and be sure to use them in your projects.