StormForge Expands Optimize Live with JVM Workload Optimization and OOM Response

StormForge Expands Optimize Live with JVM Workload Optimization and OOM Response

The News

StormForge has announced significant updates to Optimize Live, its Kubernetes resource optimization platform. These include new support for Java Virtual Machine (JVM) workload optimization and automated out-of-memory (OOM) response capabilities. These enhancements aim to reduce manual workload tuning, boost reliability, and cut cloud costs for enterprise customers. To read more, visit the original press release here.

Analyst Take

The Current State of Kubernetes Resource Optimization

As Kubernetes adoption grows across enterprises, optimizing resource allocation remains a critical challenge. The increasing complexity of modern applications and the widespread use of Java have highlighted gaps in existing rightsizing tools. With 65% of Kubernetes workloads running in JVMs, lacking specialized support has led to inefficiencies and suboptimal performance. Platform engineers and developers often find themselves manually tweaking configurations, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. This announcement from StormForge addresses these issues head-on by introducing machine learning-powered optimization tailored for JVM workloads, offering both proactive and reactive features.

Impact on the Kubernetes Optimization Market

The expansion of StormForge’s capabilities with JVM Workload Optimization and OOM Response marks a significant shift in the Kubernetes resource management landscape. JVM applications are notoriously challenging to rightsize due to the intricacies of heap and off-heap memory management. StormForge’s new features use historical usage data and machine learning models to provide tailored recommendations for heap size, resource limits, and Kubernetes configurations. The automated OOM Response feature adds a safety net, detecting memory spikes and dynamically adjusting resources to prevent crashes. StormForge aims to deliver a holistic solution that improves performance and reliability by combining proactive optimization with reactive safeguards.

How Developers Have Handled JVM Optimization Previously

Traditionally, optimizing JVM workloads on Kubernetes has required a deep understanding of the application and the underlying infrastructure. Developers often relied on trial-and-error approaches or manual adjustments to tune heap sizes and resource limits, leading to increased toil and inefficiency. The dynamic nature of JVM memory usage further complicated the process, making it difficult to predict resource needs accurately. Platform engineers often had to implement costly overprovisioning to avoid OOM errors, resulting in wasted cloud spend. The lack of automation and predictive analytics tools left a significant gap in JVM workload optimization, which StormForge’s new features aim to fill.

A New Approach to Rightsizing and Reliability

StormForge’s enhanced Optimize Live platform provides developers and platform engineers with automated, data-driven recommendations, reducing the need for manual tuning. The JVM Workload Optimization feature leverages machine learning to analyze historical usage patterns and predict optimal configurations, allowing teams to make informed decisions quickly. The addition of the Mutating Admission Webhook further streamlines integration with GitOps tools like Argo CD and Flux, enabling seamless deployment of CPU and memory recommendations. The human-in-the-loop option caters to teams that prefer manual oversight, building trust and offering flexibility in applying optimizations. This balanced approach helps reduce friction between platform teams focused on cost efficiency and developers driven by performance and reliability KPIs.

Looking Ahead

The enhancements to Optimize Live reflect a broader trend in the Kubernetes ecosystem toward automated, intelligent resource management solutions. As organizations increasingly prioritize reliability and performance over mere cost savings, tools like StormForge’s Optimize Live are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of both platform engineers and developers. The support for JVM workload optimization is particularly timely, given the prevalence of Java in enterprise applications and the growing demand for more effective, automated tuning solutions.

StormForge’s focus on deepening integration with GitOps and expanding partnerships signals a commitment to building a comprehensive resource optimization platform beyond traditional rightsizing. The collaboration with Kubecost and ongoing efforts to address skill gaps in platform engineering highlights a strategic approach to meeting the needs of modern enterprises. As CIOs look to modernize their infrastructure and streamline operations, StormForge’s solutions could enable efficient, reliable Kubernetes deployments at scale.

Authors

  • Paul Nashawaty

    Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.

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  • With over 15 years of hands-on experience in operations roles across legal, financial, and technology sectors, Sam Weston brings deep expertise in the systems that power modern enterprises such as ERP, CRM, HCM, CX, and beyond. Her career has spanned the full spectrum of enterprise applications, from optimizing business processes and managing platforms to leading digital transformation initiatives.

    Sam has transitioned her expertise into the analyst arena, focusing on enterprise applications and the evolving role they play in business productivity and transformation. She provides independent insights that bridge technology capabilities with business outcomes, helping organizations and vendors alike navigate a changing enterprise software landscape.

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