Developing an Application with the Native Apps Framework in Snowflake

A3Logics 11 Oct 2023

 

At Snowflake Summit 2022, they introduced an innovative way of building apps – Snowflake Native App Framework. Today, we make its power accessible worldwide via public preview in AWS.


Developers can now begin creating and testing Snowflake Native Apps within AWS accounts. Distribution and monetisation features will become publicly preview later this year. Google Cloud Platform and Azure still offer private previews of this framework for building native apps. This is done using Snowflake Native App Frameworks.


Snowflake Marketplace now hosts over 25 new Snowflake Native Apps frameworks. This is in addition to our own Snowflake Native Connectors for ServiceNow (public preview), Google Analytics (private preview),  and more.


These apps showcase the versatility and adaptability of Snowflake Native App Framework in terms of their broad scope. This includes cost management, identity resolution, data clean rooms, enrichment, among many more!


What is Cloud Native Application Development?


Cloud-enabled applications are legacy enterprise apps originally hosted on-premise. But modified for cloud use by changing part of their software modules to migrate it onto cloud servers. It gives access to it from the browser while keeping all its original features.


Cloud native applications refers to applications designed from their inception for use within the cloud environment. This is done using technologies like microservices, container orchestrators and auto scaling. A cloud-enabled app lacks flexibility, resilience or scalability as its counterpart due to retaining its monolithic structure.


AWS provides all of the technologies, tools and services necessary for developing functional cloud-native apps. So you can concentrate on building software products instead of worrying about infrastructure details:

 

  • Utilizing serverless technologies with AWS Lambda and custom databases built specifically to your application or feature development with Amazon dynamodb.
  • Switch to managed containers on AWS to streamline operations and reduce management overhead, simplify operations and simplify management overhead.
  • Choose from 15 relational and nonrelational AWS databases built specifically to serve microservices architecture and modern application needs, including document storage and key-value pairs.
  • Utilize our portfolio of devops services and expansive Partner Network to quickly build, deploy and operate applications at scale.
  • Utilize AWS Amplify and CDK tools to increase agility and accelerate native mobile application development processes.

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Cloud Native Application Development Methodology


Cloud native application development refers to how and where developers create and deploy cloud-native apps. A cultural shift is vital when approaching cloud development. Software professionals adopt specific practices designed to reduce timeline delays while meeting user expectations accurately and on schedule. We will go over some common cloud-native development practices below.


Continuous Delivery


Continuous Delivery (CD) is a software practice used in cloud-native development. This ensures microservices remain ready to deploy to the cloud at all times. It is done using software automation tools to reduce risks when making changes, such as adding features or patching bugs in applications. Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery work hand in hand for efficient software delivery.


Continuous Integration


Continuous integration (CI) is an approach in software engineering in which developers integrate code changes continuously into a shared code base without errors, making development faster by quickly detecting issues faster. Continuous Integration tools also automatically assess code quality for every change so teams can add features with greater confidence.


Serverless Computing


Serverless computing is a cloud-native model in which cloud providers fully oversee server infrastructure management, offering developers more freedom in terms of scaling and configuring servers to meet application demands while only paying for what resources their application uses. Additionally, when an app stops running it automatically decommits compute resources when no longer required by serverless architecture.


Devops


Devops (pronounced de-v-ops) is a software culture which fosters better collaboration between development and operations teams, aligning itself to cloud native technologies such as Amazon Web Services or Azure. Devops practices enable organizations to rapidly accelerate software development life cycles. Developers and operation engineers often employ devops tools in automating this type of cloud native development.


Features of a Cloud-native Application


Microservices that make up cloud native application development services architecture are packaged into containers that connect through apis. Orchestration tools then manage all these components.


Here are the key capabilities of these applications:


Microservice-based applications. Microservices allow applications to be divided up into independent services. This addresses different business goals using individual data references for each service. And communicate via application program interfaces (apis).


Containers are software tools designed to logically isolate an application. It enables it to run independently of physical resources. With multiple instances of its service running without interference between microservices and applications on one host system. Containers serve several important roles. Microservices don’t interfere with each other while applications don’t consume all available shared resources on that host platform. Thus, protecting all host resources for other use cases consuming these shared resources. Plus containers provide multiple instances of services available from one single host at the same time!


API-based solutions connect microservices and containers while streamlining maintenance and security management. Acting as the essential link between loosely coupled services. They enable microservices to communicate efficiently while acting as the glue that holds everything together.


Container orchestration tools help automate complex container lifecycles. This includes resource allocation, load balancing and restart schedules after internal failure to provisioning and deploying containers onto server cluster nodes.


Benefits of Native Application Development


Cloud-native apps in trend are built specifically to take full advantage of the speed and efficiency offered by cloud technology, offering many benefits such as:

 

Cost-Effective. Computing and storage resources can scale out as needed, eliminating overprovisioned hardware or load balancing issues. Virtual servers can easily be added for testing while cloud native apps can be up and running quickly. Containers also help optimize microservice run rates on one host – saving both time and resources while saving you money!

 

Independent Scalability. Each microservice is logically separate and may scale independently of other microservices. Should one need to change, no other will be affected. Additionally, cloud native architecture supports faster updates for certain components than others.

 

Increased portability. Cloud-native apps offer increased portability by being vendor neutral and employing containers to deploy microservices across vendors’ infrastructure, helping prevent vendor lock-in.

 

Reliable. In case a microservice goes down, its failure won’t have any adverse impact on neighboring services due to cloud applications’ containers being utilized as they take care of handling failure.

 

Cloud-native apps are easy to manage. automation helps deploy features and updates quickly while developers can track all microservices as they’re being updated. Since applications are composed of smaller services, engineering teams can focus on one microservice at a time instead of having to consider how it will interact with others.

 

Visibility. Because microservice architecture isolates individual services, engineering teams find it easier to examine applications and understand how they function together.

 

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Provider Benefits: Build, Distribute, and Deploy in the Data Cloud

 

The Native Application Framework Snowflake offers developers significant benefits throughout all stages of application development – from creation and distribution through deployment. Because applications built on Snowflake infrastructure provide access to built-in Snowflake features like always-on availability, global collaboration, in-platform monetization and native governance and security – providing application providers with additional value in terms of application delivery. With these capabilities in place, developers are free to focus on rapidly creating robust applications rather than spending their efforts managing infrastructure. Furthermore, as applications run seamlessly across all cloud providers and regions supported by Snowflake Data Cloud, application providers can write them once and run them virtually everywhere they please.


App providers that develop with the Native Application Framework also enjoy significant sales and distribution advantages by publishing their apps through Snowflake Marketplace, joining its Partner Program, and making them easily discoverable by thousands of Snowflake framework customers worldwide who can discover, install, and pay for them easily.


Applications built using the Native Application Framework can be rapidly deployed with higher margins and quicker sales cycles, due to customers not needing to move or share access to data with vendors or providers. Sales cycles become shorter for customers who may be concerned with vendor risk or data exfiltration issues. Providers also benefit by not needing to manage sensitive customer data as customers grant direct access directly through apps without sharing it with providers. While users’ own compute resources provide opportunities for reduction of operating expenses by providers lowering compute costs themselves and creating lower margins overall for themselves and customers.


Architecture


Left in this architecture diagram is where developers begin creating objects (table, views and code (UDF, stored proc and task) related to an application’s data sharing. Similar to how data sharing works today except without “Installer”.


Installers are stored procedures used to execute several DDL commands that create objects required by an application. When consumers create databases from shared resources (right side in diagram), they also obtain this Installer stored procedure which they then run against another schema called appdb to create objects required to run it.


Customize this installer process so it creates different objects based on parameters given during setup, helping developers charge customers according to what features can be turned on by customers. Note: Since data storage accounts and warehouses used to process information and run applications fall under consumer responsibility.


By contrast, developers can provide read/write accounts to their customer for free if their customer doesn’t already own one. Providing full control and total visibility over what interacts with appdb in their account and any potential charges back by them as required. Developer/Providers cannot log into consumer accounts nor see consumer data directly – instead the consumer controls how appdb interacts with other forms of storage within their own account.


Developer codes (logic and install procedure) provide customers with an option for making certain parts of the code invisible, protecting their IP.


How to Design Snowflake Native Apps?


Industry Model – Provide dimension models and automation that ingest data into predefined Dimension model schema for various industries like Retail or Healthcare.


Consumption Data Mart – Utilizing structured consumption data from multiple Snowflake accounts, create a dashboard which monitors both consumption and operation of Snowflake.


Change Data Capture and SCD Type-2: Create fast, straightforward cdcs and SCD Type 2s using predefined code, making the build of change data capture and Slow Changing Dimension Type 2 systems quick and effortless for customers with many tables requiring historic changes of data. This could prove particularly valuable when dealing with large volumes.

 

Data Enrichment: Strengthen customer data sets with additional, tailored information specific to customers.


App And Customer’s Data


Today’s enterprises rely on multiple apps to complete critical business functions. However, these applications often create data silos which leave fragmented and non-standardized information with little control of its source or usage. Even worse, many teams can’t access certain applications they require because their use requires moving or sharing sensitive data outside the secured platform they utilize for storage purposes.


As per mobile application development consulting services expert, Snowflake Native Apps provide consumers with an entirely novel method for harnessing data. Consumers can access and purchase Snowflake Native Apps through Snowflake Marketplace before installing and running them within their account – opening up new possibilities to enrich, activate, enhance, visualize and transform data – without ever leaving their account!

 

Snowflake Native Apps run directly in customers’ accounts without moving or providing access to data, which significantly lowers security and procurement hurdles while speeding sales for providers and time-to-value for customers. Furthermore, providers’ intellectual property remains safe from customers since customers only gain access to what’s visible without ever accessing proprietary datasets or logic from providers.


Snowflake Native App Framework: Approach to Be Taken


Let’s take a look at how things need to be covered as suggested by ios app development companies in business.


Development


Develop your Snowflake Native App in any environment of your choosing. For instance, using the Snowflake vscode extension and Snowpark for Python code development.


Snowflake provides access to first-class Snowpark and Streamlit functionalities (which will soon become public), making it possible to integrate data sets within an app for logic and interface purposes. Plus, Snowpark Container Services support makes building more sophisticated products possible using technologies and platforms of your choosing. Llms for instance could even become Snowflake Native Apps!


Config


Implement pop-up notifications to prompt customers for account-level permissions, access to objects and approval for privileged actions. Customers have complete control of what apps can access within their accounts.


Package


As per android application development company, once your app has been developed, packaging it into a Snowflake Native App Package makes sharing it with consumers effortless. While protecting intellectual property rights.


Test


Once your code is with Snowlake Native App Package, testing and debugging becomes much simpler. It is in process by installing its package and instantiating within that account. Doing this saves time as separate testing environments no longer necessary while creating tight development cycles allowing continuous improvement with tight development cycles.

After testing your apps, once completed you can commit code changes by creating versions of the Snowflake Native App Package and commit code automatically via existing CI/CD pipelines by creating versions.


Monetizing


Once your Snowflake Native App comes out, the next step should be making it available for public consumption. And most importantly for sale if applicable.


Security Reviews


Snowflake Native Apps are kept in track automatically by Snowflake to help ensure their security. Reviewing every version publicly for security threats or abuse before installation in end-consumers’ accounts. This is without needing to move or copy data. These reviews help speed sales cycles by cutting customer security review times significantly faster.


Publish


Snowflake Native App Framework gives your app immense distribution flexibility. Share and deploy it across teams or departments within your organization. Or target specific accounts via public listings on Snowflake Marketplace – creating either public listings that allow all to discover, purchase and install it or private ones that target specific accounts directly.


As the app provider, you can set your pricing model while Snowflake manages billing and invoicing customers on your behalf.


Snowflake provides various monetization models, from subscription-based models to usage-based models priced per query or month. Custom Event Billing capabilities enable you to develop your own pricing strategy. Customers are charged according to usage. Billing events may include consumed rows, unique users ingesting, locations monthly billing events etc.


On-platform billing allows customers to pay by credit card, ACH payment or even Snowflake Capacity commitment. While knowing these customer-facing apps are of Snowflake means users know they will gain from its scalability, speed, and reliability.


Manage Your App


Versioning


With versioning built into the Snowflake Native App Framework, it is now easier than ever to make incremental feature updates and bug fixes without further downtime or disruptions for customers. Release directives provide targeted releases for specific customer groups. So you can stage roll out apps or launch beta programs without additional downtime or disruptions.And new versions are automatically in process so your customers will always stay current.


Telemetry


The Snowflake Native App Framework makes use of Snowflake platform’s telemetry capabilities – logs, events and alerts – in order to monitor app performance and address errors quickly and effectively. Customers may share logs or events from their app with app providers as they help in troubleshooting or debugging purposes. You can always connect with the best custom mobile app development company and get more assistance on it. 

 

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Final Thoughts


Snowflake Native Application Framework offers developers the means to develop and publish apps to the Snowflake Marketplace. Customers can visit Snowflake Market Place to search and securely install these apps into their accounts without sending sensitive information out into other services like saas apps. Snowflake makes sure both developer and customer protect each other’s code/data from each other.


If you are looking for one to help you with custom ios app development services, then a3logics can help. Good luck!


FAQs


What is Native Application Framework (NAF)?


Native applications are software programs specifically for specific platforms or devices, like an OS. Because developers create individual native apps tailored specifically for specific OSS or devices, these native mobile apps take full advantage of device specific hardware and software to function optimally on that specific OS or device. To know more you can connect with one of the best mobile app development companies in USA. They will help you all the way through. 


What are the limitations of Snowflake native apps?


Snowflake Native App Framework’s preview release currently only supports Snowflake accounts hosted on Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform. Cross-cloud auto fulfillment for Snowflake Native App Framework is not currently on. You can connect with react native application development services experts to know more. They will help you understand all about it.


What are Snowflake native apps?


Snowflake Native Apps run within customer accounts. So no data needs to go outside. This means less administrative hurdles and faster time-to-value for customers. This leads to happier security teams, reduced procurement hurdles and faster time-to-value results for them. To know more about the same, you can connect with the android native application development company. The experts can guide you through it.