Version: Nov 2023
The concept of the frugal architect is a key theme in the keynote speech by Dr. Werner Vogels at AWS re:Invent 2023. Dr. Werner Vogels is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Amazon.com. Vogels has been with Amazon for over 20 years, and his experiences have shaped his views on building cost-aware architectures. He believes that the macroeconomic climate has led to companies becoming more interested in what their systems are costing them, and he encourages architects to keep both cost and sustainability in mind when designing systems. The frugal architect is a mindset that emphasizes cost and sustainability as non-functional requirements when building systems and applications. This approach encourages creativity and cost awareness, which Vogels argues is a lost art that needs to be regained.
Key Principles
Architect for Cost and Sustainability
Design systems with cost and environmental impact in mind. This means creating applications that are both affordable and environmentally friendly, which can lead to long-term savings and a positive impact on the environment.
Regain the Lost Art of Cost Awareness
In the past, people were more conscious of costs, and this mindset helped them be more creative and frugal. Today, it’s essential to understand the costs associated with a project and align them with business goals to ensure financial success.
Implement Systems to Control Costs
Create systems that help manage and control costs. This can involve breaking down applications into different components (e.g., critical and non-critical) and allocating resources accordingly to optimize spending.
Continuous Optimization is Vital
Regularly analyze and optimize systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This involves identifying areas of waste and making incremental improvements to eliminate them.
Avoid Sticking to Old Ways
Don’t be afraid to explore new technologies, languages, and frameworks. Regularly reevaluate current practices and be open to adopting new approaches that can lead to better efficiency and sustainability.
AI Can Provide Practical Solutions
While cutting-edge AI is exciting, existing AI techniques can still offer valuable solutions. Practical and impactful solutions can be built using currently available AI technologies.
Strategies
1. Design: The design phase should incorporate cost and sustainability considerations from the outset. This includes understanding the resources being used and how they contribute to the overall cost and sustainability of the system.
2. Measure: It’s important to continuously measure and monitor the cost and resource usage of the system. This allows for a better understanding of how resources are being used and how they contribute to the overall cost and sustainability.
3. Optimize: Based on the measurements, the system should be continuously optimized to reduce costs and improve sustainability. This could involve re-architecting the system, adopting new technologies, or changing operational practices.
Case Study:
WeTransfer, a file-sharing company, has effectively implemented the key principles of cost and sustainability. They restructured themselves as a certified B corporation, maintaining high standards in environmental, social, and fiscal transparency. Their server usage, which was their largest energy dependency, was re-architected to forecast, track, and measure carbon emissions while serving 80 million people a month, demonstrating a commitment to architecting for cost and sustainability.
PBS was able to drive down its streaming cost by 80% by moving from streaming directly out of S3 and CloudFont to ECS and Fargate. This move was a re-architecture with cost in mind.
Conclusion
The frugal architect mindset is a powerful approach to building systems and applications. By focusing on cost and sustainability, architects can create more efficient and effective solutions. This approach requires continuous learning and adaptation, but the potential benefits in terms of cost savings and sustainability make it a worthwhile investment.
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