About
Welcome to Cloud & Code
Where modern cloud principles intersect with software engineering, solutions architecture, and scalable computing platforms. Whether you’re developing cloud-native systems, managing legacy infrastructures, or architecting large-scale solutions, this blog provides actionable insights and best practices.
While Cloud First approaches are a common theme here, the blog also explores building, securing, and scaling robust software systems. You’ll find strategies to enhance performance, security, scalability, and efficiency across all types of projects.
Cloud services have transformed how we design, build, and deploy software. Even if your project isn’t fully cloud-native—or will never be cloud-based—integrating cloud-driven strategies can future-proof your systems and streamline development.
In my first post, I explore the concept of a ‘Cloud First’ approach, a foundational philosophy woven throughout this blog. This mindset delivers immediate value while positioning your product for long-term success, whether transitioning to cloud-native solutions or modernizing legacy systems.
What to Expect
Future posts will cover:
- Core software engineering principles
- A strong focus on performance and scalability
- Solution architecture design patterns
- DevOps practices for seamless integration and deployment
- Security strategies for modern applications
- Cost control and operational efficiency in the cloud
- And, of course, how Cloud First thinking ties into all of these areas
About Me
I’m Kevin Zehrer, a Software Engineer and Solutions Architect with decades of experience. I started programming on a dial-up teletype and have since built solutions across embedded systems, desktops, mobile devices, servers, and cloud platforms. I’ve worked with a variety of operating systems and languages, from low-level assembly to managed languages like C#, which I’ve used for over 20 years—since .NET Framework 1.1.
My career spans companies of all sizes, from a small, three-person firm to Fortune 50 enterprises, in both full-time and consulting roles. Across multiple industries, I’ve seen both successful and struggling projects, and I’ve identified recurring patterns that drive success—or lead to failure.
While I have experience with several full-stack projects, my primary focus has been on:
- Backend and cloud services
- Foundational infrastructure libraries
- Architectural design
- Salvaging at-risk projects
- Driving operational efficiencies
- Optimizing performance, reliability, and scalability
With that in mind, many of the topics covered here will focus on efficiency, productivity, performance, scalability, maintainability, and best practices.
I hope you find these explorations of cloud services, software solutions, and architecture insightful and thought-provoking. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to see covered, please feel free to contact me!