Stories from the Cloud: Anecdotes and Lessons from a Cloud Computing Professor

It has been several years since I immersed myself in the world of cloud computing. I remember that, in those early days, the term "cloud" sounded like modern magic, almost unattainable. Today, being a professor of Cloud Computing, and director of the Master in Cloud Architecture & DevOps ManagementI look back and smile at how many lessons (and anecdotes) these years of experiences have taught me.

The Payments Processing Challenge: Reinventing Under Pressure

One of the most intense and revealing episodes occurred when we were tasked with automate a payment process involving multiple data sources and complex transformations. Up to that point, such a process took weeks and was riddled with errors. The first goal was ambitious: to design a solution that could process everything in just a couple of days - a huge improvement on its own!

But, knowing the potential of the ETL systemsthe services serverless and, in part, thanks to "ambitious" requests from our clients, the window was narrowing to leave room for just 30 minutes of processing. Our team was desperate; the task seemed impossible. But we reinvented ourselves:

- Microprocess decomposition: We divided data processing into small tasks running in parallel on Kubernetes.

- Adjustable scalability: We adapt the capacity of the Kubernetes to actual demand, optimising resources and costs by using queues.

- Efficient orchestration: We coordinated the states of each task across multiple PubSub queues, ensuring that each step was executed in the correct order using Cloud Composer.

- Re-engineering the framework: We reworked our framework in Pythonby perfecting data transformation in a comprehensive way against BigQuery.

The result was amazing: the final execution was completed in less than 20 minutes, with a near-perfect success rate. And the best part? The go-live took place on New Year's Eve, while many were enjoying grapes. It was a lesson in adaptability, flexibility, creativity and, above all, camaraderie. Today, that solution is considered a reference model in the industry for process execution and data transformation.

Lessons Beyond the Code

With each experience, I have learned that success in the cloud does not depend solely on technical know-how or the latest innovative tool. The real keys lie in:

- Adaptability: Learning to reinvent oneself and to adjust one's strategy according to circumstances is essential.

- Teamwork: The unity and commitment of a team can turn an almost insurmountable challenge into an opportunity to innovate.

- Constant innovation: The cloud is constantly evolving; being open to new methodologies and technologies is essential to stay relevant.

- Resilience: Setbacks and last-minute changes are part of the process. Each obstacle overcome strengthens the ability to face the future with confidence.

The Cloud, a Universe of Opportunities. A word from a cloud computing professor

Looking back and remembering these episodes reaffirms to me that the real magic of cloud computing lies in the combination of technology, human talent and a passion to innovate. Every challenge, no matter how complex it may seem, is an opportunity to grow and redefine our limits.

If I have learned anything on this journey, it is that the cloud is not just a set of tools or a passing fad; it is an ecosystem in constant transformation that challenges us to be better professionals. And, as I always say in class, behind every successful solution or design there are dozens of versions, trial and error, adaptability, resilience and, above all, collaboration.

So one thing I always say, and not just as a cloud computing teacher, is that we are only as good as the people around us.

See you in class (or in the cloud)!