James Eastham
@jameseastham.co.uk
Developer | International Speaker | Microsoft MVP | AWS Community Builder | Endurance Athelete
Talking Serveless at Datadog | ex-AWS
All views are my own.
He/Him
Talking Serveless at Datadog | ex-AWS
All views are my own.
He/Him
Pinned
James Eastham
@jameseastham.co.uk
· Oct 9
Deep Dive: Solution Architecture
Master solution architecture and turn business needs into scalable, maintainable systems
dometrain.com
Excited to announce my new course on Dometrain - Solution Architecture Deep Dive.
The #1 feedback I got on the first course was the depth. Don't worry, this ones goes deeper. Deeper into what it actually means to be an architect in 2025.
#dotnet
dometrain.com/course/deep-...
The #1 feedback I got on the first course was the depth. Don't worry, this ones goes deeper. Deeper into what it actually means to be an architect in 2025.
#dotnet
dometrain.com/course/deep-...
Reposted by James Eastham
Cool! This wording with _friction_ is exactly how my internal monologue goes. Especially with e.g. learning things - without actual friction - without struggle (cuz you're outsourcing your brain) - you're not growing.
December 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Cool! This wording with _friction_ is exactly how my internal monologue goes. Especially with e.g. learning things - without actual friction - without struggle (cuz you're outsourcing your brain) - you're not growing.
Fantastic article on the Guardian about Spotify Wrapped and 'removing critical thought about things'.
Particularly this little section here.
I'm not bashing Spotify Wrapped by the way, it can be surprising. But it does show 'thinking' is being automated a way.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Particularly this little section here.
I'm not bashing Spotify Wrapped by the way, it can be surprising. But it does show 'thinking' is being automated a way.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
December 3, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Fantastic article on the Guardian about Spotify Wrapped and 'removing critical thought about things'.
Particularly this little section here.
I'm not bashing Spotify Wrapped by the way, it can be surprising. But it does show 'thinking' is being automated a way.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Particularly this little section here.
I'm not bashing Spotify Wrapped by the way, it can be surprising. But it does show 'thinking' is being automated a way.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Ever had to change the structure of an event? Wondered how to do that in a safe way that doesn't break all the consumers?
Luckily, I have the video for you. I cover how you should think about versioning, and how to depreceate events in your event-driven system safely.
youtu.be/pXMvi0-RB1I
Luckily, I have the video for you. I cover how you should think about versioning, and how to depreceate events in your event-driven system safely.
youtu.be/pXMvi0-RB1I
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Ever had to change the structure of an event? Wondered how to do that in a safe way that doesn't break all the consumers?
Luckily, I have the video for you. I cover how you should think about versioning, and how to depreceate events in your event-driven system safely.
youtu.be/pXMvi0-RB1I
Luckily, I have the video for you. I cover how you should think about versioning, and how to depreceate events in your event-driven system safely.
youtu.be/pXMvi0-RB1I
Reposted by James Eastham
Now we're getting to the exciting stuff. AWS Lambda now support durable executions. This is one of my favourite features in Cloudflare, and having this available natively in Lambda is nice.
Some caveats around using versions. But a brilliant release.
#serverless
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/bu...
Some caveats around using versions. But a brilliant release.
#serverless
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/bu...
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Now we're getting to the exciting stuff. AWS Lambda now support durable executions. This is one of my favourite features in Cloudflare, and having this available natively in Lambda is nice.
Some caveats around using versions. But a brilliant release.
#serverless
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/bu...
Some caveats around using versions. But a brilliant release.
#serverless
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/bu...
Setting up an RSS feed aggregator on my home server and doing all my 'internetting' through an RSS reader app has improved my general enjoyment of the internet tenfold.
Hyper specific feeds, no ads or bullshit.
It's great.
Hyper specific feeds, no ads or bullshit.
It's great.
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Setting up an RSS feed aggregator on my home server and doing all my 'internetting' through an RSS reader app has improved my general enjoyment of the internet tenfold.
Hyper specific feeds, no ads or bullshit.
It's great.
Hyper specific feeds, no ads or bullshit.
It's great.
Reposted by James Eastham
Yeah, this feels like a boundary that is better off not getting blurred. If you need to prescribe hardware specifics there’s already ECS / EC2
December 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Yeah, this feels like a boundary that is better off not getting blurred. If you need to prescribe hardware specifics there’s already ECS / EC2
December 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Ever scratched your head trying to get consistent telemetry across all your event-driven systems?
You're not alone.
In my latest video, I dive into how semantic conventions can standardize your telemetry for your messaging systems.
youtu.be/JPvcdqzHUcA
You're not alone.
In my latest video, I dive into how semantic conventions can standardize your telemetry for your messaging systems.
youtu.be/JPvcdqzHUcA
Understanding Semantic Conventions in Asynchronous Systems
Hi, I'm James Eastham, a developer advocate at Datadog. In this video, I explain the significance of standardizing observability in asynchronous systems using semantic conventions managed by the Open Telemetry Project. I discuss the challenges of inconsistent naming conventions and structures in distributed tracing across teams and how semantic conventions provide standardized attributes to ensure consistency. I'll demonstrate how to implement these conventions in your application code using examples. You'll learn to analyze trace data, understand upstream and downstream message flows, and aggregate insights across your system while reducing reliance on outdated documentation. Join me to take your observability to the next level. 00:00 Introduction to Observability in Asynchronous Systems 00:42 The Need for Consistency: Semantic Conventions 01:30 Implementing Semantic Conventions in Messaging Systems 02:39 Practical Examples and Code Implementation 03:56 Benefits of Standardized Telemetry 04:38 Using Observability Data for System Insights 05:58 Creating Dashboards and High-Level Insights 06:45 Conclusion...
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Ever scratched your head trying to get consistent telemetry across all your event-driven systems?
You're not alone.
In my latest video, I dive into how semantic conventions can standardize your telemetry for your messaging systems.
youtu.be/JPvcdqzHUcA
You're not alone.
In my latest video, I dive into how semantic conventions can standardize your telemetry for your messaging systems.
youtu.be/JPvcdqzHUcA
Lambda now supports managed instances.
Honestly not sure how I feel about this release. Yes, I can see why the Lambda team have built it. But this blurs the line even more between Lambda & ECS and COULD make things more confusing.
#serverless #aws #lambda
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in...
Honestly not sure how I feel about this release. Yes, I can see why the Lambda team have built it. But this blurs the line even more between Lambda & ECS and COULD make things more confusing.
#serverless #aws #lambda
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in...
Introducing AWS Lambda Managed Instances: Serverless simplicity with EC2 flexibility | Amazon Web Services
Run Lambda functions on EC2 compute while maintaining serverless simplicity—enabling access to specialized hardware and cost optimizations through EC2 pricing models, with AWS handling all infrastruct...
aws.amazon.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Lambda now supports managed instances.
Honestly not sure how I feel about this release. Yes, I can see why the Lambda team have built it. But this blurs the line even more between Lambda & ECS and COULD make things more confusing.
#serverless #aws #lambda
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in...
Honestly not sure how I feel about this release. Yes, I can see why the Lambda team have built it. But this blurs the line even more between Lambda & ECS and COULD make things more confusing.
#serverless #aws #lambda
aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in...
Migrating from GitHub to Codeberg
⚡
Zig Programming Language
ziglang.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by James Eastham
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
November 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
Wait, when did Aurora DSQL add an in-console query editor?
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Wait, when did Aurora DSQL add an in-console query editor?
I've used event storming a bunch over my career, a great way to tease out the flow of your system.
And yes, it's still useful even if you're not building an event-driven system.
And yes, it's still useful even if you're not building an event-driven system.
@jameseastham.co.uk and I have released the inaugural _second episode_ (coughs loudly) of our video series on modern software development - this time on James' favourite thing, **Event Storming** - a great tool to dive into a domain you're about to build something in!
This Process Will Change How You Think About Designing Your Software
YouTube video by Datadog Community
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I've used event storming a bunch over my career, a great way to tease out the flow of your system.
And yes, it's still useful even if you're not building an event-driven system.
And yes, it's still useful even if you're not building an event-driven system.
Reposted by James Eastham
@jameseastham.co.uk and I have released the inaugural _second episode_ (coughs loudly) of our video series on modern software development - this time on James' favourite thing, **Event Storming** - a great tool to dive into a domain you're about to build something in!
This Process Will Change How You Think About Designing Your Software
YouTube video by Datadog Community
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
@jameseastham.co.uk and I have released the inaugural _second episode_ (coughs loudly) of our video series on modern software development - this time on James' favourite thing, **Event Storming** - a great tool to dive into a domain you're about to build something in!
"Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them"
Frank Herbert calling it all the way back in 1965. Feels like a pretty accurate description of current times.
#ai
Frank Herbert calling it all the way back in 1965. Feels like a pretty accurate description of current times.
#ai
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
"Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them"
Frank Herbert calling it all the way back in 1965. Feels like a pretty accurate description of current times.
#ai
Frank Herbert calling it all the way back in 1965. Feels like a pretty accurate description of current times.
#ai
Reposted by James Eastham
Fil from Wings of Pegasus captured this sentiment in his latest video about Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. The rampant auto-tuning of performances takes the humanity out of them.
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Fil from Wings of Pegasus captured this sentiment in his latest video about Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. The rampant auto-tuning of performances takes the humanity out of them.
I came across an AMA on Reddit last night with Benedict Cumberbatch.
He pretty perfectly captures my current view on the slop filled world we are heading for.
He pretty perfectly captures my current view on the slop filled world we are heading for.
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I came across an AMA on Reddit last night with Benedict Cumberbatch.
He pretty perfectly captures my current view on the slop filled world we are heading for.
He pretty perfectly captures my current view on the slop filled world we are heading for.
Reposted by James Eastham
Re CDK: L1 constructs for now. Not ideal, but it's something at least!
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Re CDK: L1 constructs for now. Not ideal, but it's something at least!
Ever wondered how to better understand your event-driven systems?
In my latest video I unpack span links. The unsung heroes of asynchronous system tracing, providing clarity without the chaos.
Watch and learn how they can improve your understanding of your systems!
youtu.be/M3ACALGCp6E
In my latest video I unpack span links. The unsung heroes of asynchronous system tracing, providing clarity without the chaos.
Watch and learn how they can improve your understanding of your systems!
youtu.be/M3ACALGCp6E
Master span links in Event-Driven Systems
Hi, I'm James Eastham, a developer advocate at Datadog. In this video, you'll discover how SPAN links provide an alternative approach for understanding cause and effect in event-driven systems. We'll explore the challenges of using parent-child relationships in distributed tracing and how SPAN links can simplify complexity. Learn to visualize and analyze these links in your observability backend, keeping traces independent while maintaining clear cause-and-effect relationships within your system. 00:00 Introduction to SPAN Links 00:12 Understanding Distributed Tracing 01:17 Challenges with Parent-Child Relationships 03:29 The Power of SPAN Linking 06:03 Visualizing SPAN Links 08:41 Conclusion and Next Steps
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Ever wondered how to better understand your event-driven systems?
In my latest video I unpack span links. The unsung heroes of asynchronous system tracing, providing clarity without the chaos.
Watch and learn how they can improve your understanding of your systems!
youtu.be/M3ACALGCp6E
In my latest video I unpack span links. The unsung heroes of asynchronous system tracing, providing clarity without the chaos.
Watch and learn how they can improve your understanding of your systems!
youtu.be/M3ACALGCp6E
Somehow managed to miss this announcement, but a cool new addition to Amazon ECS with express mode. Give ECS a container image, and it'll run it incorporating a bunch of best practices.
Does this spell the end of AppRunner? Who knows.
aws.amazon.com/about-aws/wh...
#aws #serverless
Does this spell the end of AppRunner? Who knows.
aws.amazon.com/about-aws/wh...
#aws #serverless
Announcing Amazon ECS Express Mode - AWS
Discover more about what's new at AWS with Announcing Amazon ECS Express Mode
aws.amazon.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Somehow managed to miss this announcement, but a cool new addition to Amazon ECS with express mode. Give ECS a container image, and it'll run it incorporating a bunch of best practices.
Does this spell the end of AppRunner? Who knows.
aws.amazon.com/about-aws/wh...
#aws #serverless
Does this spell the end of AppRunner? Who knows.
aws.amazon.com/about-aws/wh...
#aws #serverless
Reposted by James Eastham
Congrats! If you're working with OpenTelemetry in Lambda, this may be interesting: github.com/streamfold/r.... Rust OTel collection with very fast cold start times.
GitHub - streamfold/rotel-lambda-extension: AWS Lambda Extension for Rotel
AWS Lambda Extension for Rotel. Contribute to streamfold/rotel-lambda-extension development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Congrats! If you're working with OpenTelemetry in Lambda, this may be interesting: github.com/streamfold/r.... Rust OTel collection with very fast cold start times.
Reposted by James Eastham
Good old Woz. Good for him.
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Good old Woz. Good for him.
Rust on AWS Lambda is now GA 🎉🎉
To celebrate @loige.co and me put together a short newsletter and talked about what's next for the next two chapters of the Rust on Lambda book.
And some details on the next release....
news.rust-lambda.com/p/from-exper...
#serverless #rust #rustlang
To celebrate @loige.co and me put together a short newsletter and talked about what's next for the next two chapters of the Rust on Lambda book.
And some details on the next release....
news.rust-lambda.com/p/from-exper...
#serverless #rust #rustlang
🦀 From Experimental to GA: Rust on Lambda and Our Road Ahead
The Rust Lambda runtime just hit 1.0 and GA 🚀 We break down what that really means (no, it’s not a managed runtime), share progress on our event-driven chapter + observability, and tease the next big ...
news.rust-lambda.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Rust on AWS Lambda is now GA 🎉🎉
To celebrate @loige.co and me put together a short newsletter and talked about what's next for the next two chapters of the Rust on Lambda book.
And some details on the next release....
news.rust-lambda.com/p/from-exper...
#serverless #rust #rustlang
To celebrate @loige.co and me put together a short newsletter and talked about what's next for the next two chapters of the Rust on Lambda book.
And some details on the next release....
news.rust-lambda.com/p/from-exper...
#serverless #rust #rustlang
Yes I've just spent 90 minutes debugging a docker build inside GitHub actions, because a path couldn't be found.
I thought it was some weird Javascript path resolution error....
The files didn't exist in GitHub....
I hate software engineering sometimes.
I thought it was some weird Javascript path resolution error....
The files didn't exist in GitHub....
I hate software engineering sometimes.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Yes I've just spent 90 minutes debugging a docker build inside GitHub actions, because a path couldn't be found.
I thought it was some weird Javascript path resolution error....
The files didn't exist in GitHub....
I hate software engineering sometimes.
I thought it was some weird Javascript path resolution error....
The files didn't exist in GitHub....
I hate software engineering sometimes.