9 Important Things A MuleSoft Platform Architect Should Know

MuleSoft's Anypoint Platform is one of the best cloud supported integration platforms among its market competition. The design and architecture of its Control Plane and Runtime plane are just jaw dropping and without doubt gives the best pilot experience.

Understanding and mastering such a rich platform is not a one night job. The rich features that the platform offer are just one side of the story. There is other side which deals with the stuff that isn't visible but plays a critical role in the success of the platform and the companies adopting it.

MuleSoft Platform Architects, who generally are the major contributors and holds main responsibility of the platform success, should know and understand 9 important aspects  of the platform that unfolds both sides of the story. The success of an enterprise and platform depends on how well the architects know what aspects play what key role in the journey of their Application Networks.

Below are those aspects in the order of their role and importance in their journey:

• Application Network and MuleSoft Proposed IT Operating Model
  A platform architect should understand about the Application Networks and IT Operating Model proposed by MuleSoft very well.

• Deployment Options
  A platform architect should be well aware of
  • what deployment options the platform offers
  • must perfectly understand how these various deployment options work and
  • what option fits right for what scenario and customer needs

• Modeling APIs
  A platform architect should know how to elegantly model the APIs using the Anypoint Platform features and its components

• Addressing Non-Functional Requirements of APIs
  A platform architect should be an expert in proactively analyzing and addressing the Non-Functional Requirements of the APIs in the Application Network. Should also be well aware of:
  • How anypoint platform enforces these NFRs?
  • What out of the box features the platform offers?
  • Is customization possible if needed?

• Designing Effective APIs
  A platform architect should know how to design effective APIs using anypoint platform features and its components

• Implementing Effective APIs
  A platform architect should also know how to implement the designed APIs effectively by using various anypoint platform features, patterns and its components

• Event Driven Architecture
  A platform architect should be aware of do’s and dont’s, best practices and right methodologies to incorporate EDA into anypoint platform + application network while same time respecting and aligning to the principles of API-led connectivity.

• Getting APIs Production Ready
  A platform architect should have a good foresight and setup in place to make sure APIs are designed and implemented in a production ready manner from day-1. The source code control and release strategy practices that are recommended and supported by MuleSoft Anypoint Platform must be leveraged.

• Monitoring and Analytics
  A platform architect should spend same amount of time he/she spent on design and implementation for setting up monitoring and analytics too. Should know all features and components platform offers and also should be aware on what kind of alerts can be setup + dashboards can be created.

Conclusion

All the above mentioned aspects play key role in the platform architects journey while building application networks. Missing any piece would directly effect the success criteria of such application network. All these addressed together will result in fruitful outcome and success.