Azure Cloud Design Patterns

Azure cloud design patterns are proven solutions to common cloud computing challenges in building scalable, resilient, and highly available cloud-based applications. Here is a list of Azure cloud design patterns with their summary and categories:

PatternSummaryCategory
Cache-asideLoad data on demand into a cache from a data storeData Management
Circuit BreakerHandle faults that may take a variable amount of time to recover from when connecting to a remote service or resourceResiliency
Compensating TransactionUndo the work performed by a series of steps, which together define an eventually consistent operation, that has completed with a failure or an exceptionResiliency
Competing ConsumersEnable multiple concurrent consumers to process messages received on the same messaging channelMessaging
Compute Resource ConsolidationIncrease the efficiency of compute resources by dynamically allocating them between different applications based on demandManagement and Monitoring
Command and Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS)Separate the part of the application that writes to the database from the part of the application that reads from the databaseData Management
Event SourcingUse an append-only store to record the full series of events that describe actions taken on data in a domainData Management
External Configuration StoreMove configuration information out of the application deployment package to a centralized locationManagement and Monitoring
Gateway RoutingRoute requests to multiple services using a single endpoint and a routing tableManagement and Monitoring
Health Endpoint MonitoringImplement functional checks in an application that external tools can access through exposed endpoints at regular intervalsManagement and Monitoring
Index TableCreate an index for fast read access to large, tabular data setsData Management
Leader ElectionCoordinate a distributed system by electing a leader processCoordination
Materialized ViewGenerate pre-populated views over the data in one or more data stores to improve read performanceData Management
Pipes and FiltersDecompose a task that performs complex processing into a series of separate elements that can be reusedData Management
Priority QueueEnsure that the most important jobs are processed first in a scalable mannerMessaging
Publisher/SubscriberEnable an application to notify one or more decoupled subscribers that state has changedMessaging
Queue-Based Load LevelingEnable a system to handle temporary increases in load by using a queue that acts as a buffer between the request and the service that handles itResiliency
RetryEnable an application to handle transient failures when it tries to connect to a service or network resource by transparently retrying an operation that's previously failedResiliency
Runtime FabricHost and scale microservices in a Kubernetes clusterManagement and Monitoring
ShardingPartition data to scale out a databaseData Management
Static Content HostingHost and deliver static web content with high scalability and redundancyWeb and Mobile
ThrottlingRegulate resource consumption, protect resources from being over-consumed, and provide status information about rate limitingResiliency
Valet KeyUse a temporary credential or key that's provided to a third party to access a specific Azure serviceSecurity
Zone-Redundant ServicesDistribute a service across multiple zones to protect against data center-level failuresResiliency

Azure cloud design patterns are used to provide guidance on how to design and implement cloud solutions on the Microsoft Azure platform. These patterns provide a set of best practices and proven solutions to common challenges faced when building cloud applications. By using these patterns, developers and architects can save time and ensure their cloud solutions are reliable, scalable, and performant. The patterns also help to ensure that the solutions are secure, resilient, and cost-effective.

Below are some potential pros and cons of using Azure cloud design patterns:

Pros:
  • Reusability: Design patterns promote code reuse, which can help to reduce the amount of code you need to write and improve development efficiency.
  • Standardization: Design patterns provide a standardized approach to solving common problems, which can help to ensure that your code is consistent and maintainable.
  • Best Practices: Azure cloud design patterns are based on best practices and proven techniques, which can help to ensure that your code is reliable and efficient.
  • Improved scalability and performance: Azure cloud design patterns are often designed to improve scalability and performance, which can help to ensure that your application can handle increasing traffic and user demands.
  • Cost savings: By using design patterns, you can often reduce development time and improve the efficiency of your application, which can lead to cost savings over time.
Cons:
  • Complexity: Design patterns can be complex and difficult to understand, especially for inexperienced developers.
  • Over-engineering: Overusing design patterns or applying them inappropriately can lead to over-engineering, which can increase complexity and reduce maintainability.
  • Dependency: Relying heavily on design patterns can create a dependency on third-party libraries, which can introduce security and performance risks.
  • Time-consuming: It can take time to learn and apply design patterns, which can delay the development process.
  • Limited applicability: Not all design patterns will be applicable to all projects, and in some cases, custom solutions may be needed instead.