January 2021 Summaries

In this ChangeLog, Fly introduces new features and improvements to its platform. These include 6PN Networking and IPv6 WireGuard VPNs for private networking between apps, updates to scaling models with a new command for autoscaling, and backend enhancements such as faster boot times and improved logging. Additionally, the latest version of flyctl (0.0.162) fixes issues on M1 Macs and adds more feature foundation work.

In 2020, Fly launched its Global Application Platform and introduced various features throughout the year. These included Turboku for faster Heroku apps, Custom Domains with GraphQL API, One-Click Imaginary for image processing services, Deno support, Scale system improvements, GoStatic for static websites, built-in builders for Flyctl, persistent volumes on Fly, a new logging system, and 6PN Private Networking. The company also added WireGuard peering, graceful shutdown options for VMs, and revised VM sizes. In December, they demonstrated how to deploy Redis, MinIO, Gogs, MQTT, Node-Red, and Redis with TLS using persistent volumes. Looking forward to 2021, Fly encourages users to sign up at community.fly.io for updates on upcoming features.

The text discusses new example applications showcasing the latest features of Fly, a platform for running applications. Two example applications are presented: a Websocket-based chat application that uses NATS cluster to relay messages, and a global messaging cluster configured within a Fly organization's network using NATS. Both examples utilize Fly's 6PN networking and DNS features like .internal addresses for locating running instances of apps in an organization or region. More Fly examples can be found in Flight Plans - Guides and Examples.

Fly.io enables the deployment of containerized applications globally, allowing users to run headless Chrome instances as Firecracker VMs in various locations, such as Singapore, Sydney, Paris, and Chile, for tasks like web page loading and testing. The deployment process involves using tools like Docker and Fly's CLI to set up applications and secure them via WireGuard for private network communications. For service discovery and cluster management, HashiCorp's Serf is utilized, offering a simpler alternative to Consul by providing a decentralized system that manages cluster membership and health checks using the SWIM protocol. Serf also incorporates the Vivaldi algorithm to map network distances between nodes, enabling efficient service discovery without relying on DNS. This setup allows for scalable and secure management of distributed systems, providing a practical introduction to real-world implementation of these technologies on Fly.io's platform.

The Fly network offers a powerful command called "flyctl" or simply "fly", which can be used interchangeably on most platforms. This command provides various features to manage and deploy applications efficiently. Users can specify the app name using the -a flag, build from outside the directory with fly deploy, and use multiple fly.toml files for different deployment configurations. Additionally, the fly open command helps users quickly access their application's URL, while fly dash metrics opens the dashboard metrics page for better visualization. Lastly, the fly docs command provides easy access to the Fly documentation from the command line.