June 2024 Summaries

The text discusses the transition from using the old K1 compiler in Apollo Kotlin to the new K2 compiler, which is part of Kotlin 2. The migration process involved maintaining a dedicated branch for non-breaking changes and iterating through beta and release candidates until a stable version was reached. The switch has improved build performance, with a noticeable 40% reduction in compilation time on a MacBook Pro with a 10-core M1 Max chip. The new compiler also brings improvements to the Compose compiler's release cycles and version numbers. Although some compatibility issues were encountered, especially with native and JS code, the K2 compiler has been found to have better forward compatibility for Android and JVM projects. The future development of language features such as Guards, Context sensitive resolution, and Explicit backing fields is expected to be easier with the new compiler. Overall, the transition to K2 has brought significant benefits to Apollo Kotlin's build performance and is recommended for other developers to upgrade their own projects.

GraphOS recently launched its summer 2024 event, announcing new features designed to improve GraphQL platform performance and operational excellence. The new capabilities focus on improving how API teams implement and optimize GraphQL federation, providing faster baseline performance and greater control over API request execution in a supergraph. GraphOS adoption is at an inflection point, with Gartner predicting that 30% of enterprises using GraphQL will utilize federated architectures by 2027. Apollo Federation is a specification for modularly mapping existing services into a unified GraphQL API access layer, empowering teams to provide client applications with self-serve access to services through a single GraphQL endpoint. The Operational Excellence pillar focuses on ensuring the supergraph is easy to use, understand, and maintain, with new features such as query batching, enhanced telemetry and insights, entity caching with per-subgraph TTL, and demand control being introduced. These features mark a significant step forward in how organizations can improve the operational excellence of their federated GraphQL architectures.

Apollo GraphQL has announced a major update to its GraphOS platform, which provides improved observability, usability, and performance for enterprise-scale GraphQL federation. The new release includes features such as caching, native cost calculation and limiting, and telemetry capabilities, designed to revolutionize API management and streamline building cross-platform digital application experiences. This update aims to help API platform teams maximize the value of their APIs across their business, with a focus on delivering better performance, cost control, and enhanced telemetry. The release also provides significant improvements to the GraphOS management plane, enabling API teams to build, test, and ship changes to their federated graph with confidence. With this update, Apollo aims to empower engineering organizations to lead their businesses into the AI era by leveraging GraphQL federation's benefits across their teams.

We are experiencing a transformative period in application development driven by the rise of AI across industries, making the API layer crucial for delivering innovative and personalized applications. Our GraphOS platform helps teams leverage GraphQL and GraphQL federation to stay ahead in this AI-driven world, maximizing APIs' value with tools that are easy to use, scalable, and drive bottom-line growth. The latest GraphOS release improves observability and performance for enterprise-scale GraphQL federation and simplifies running a GraphQL platform with operational excellence. With the arrival of Jennifer Hewlette as Chief Marketing Officer, we welcome her expertise in category expansion and deep understanding of AI's business impact to advance our mission and bring the benefits of our supergraph technology to help developers and businesses worldwide.

The article features five Apollonauts from different locations, including London, Ohio, Oregon, Florida, and Nova Scotia, Canada, who share their experiences of working remotely for Apollo, a distributed company. The team members discuss how they benefit from the flexibility and autonomy that comes with remote work, such as having more time to balance personal responsibilities or pursuing hobbies like triathlon training. They also appreciate the inclusive culture at Apollo, which values diversity and allows them to connect with their colleagues across different time zones. The article highlights the benefits of a fully distributed company model, where asynchronous work allows for greater flexibility and reduces cultural jarring that can occur in hybrid or office-based setups. The team members share their personal stories, from adopting a dog during a conference event to enjoying cooking channels in Slack, which helps them feel connected to their colleagues despite physical distance.