--- title: "Blog: Cloud, Data, AI & IoT Engineering | Axio Intelligence" description: "Engineering notes on connected hardware, IoT and satellite connectivity, cloud cost reduction, migrations, infrastructure as code and Kubernetes." url: https://axiointelligence.com/blog --- # Notes from the work. Practical engineering writing from projects: connectivity, device platforms, cloud cost, migrations and the operational details that keep systems boring. Oct 20, 2026 ## [pgvector vs Pinecone for Enterprise RAG: When Postgres Is Enough](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/pgvector_vs_pinecone_rag) Most RAG systems don't need a separate vector database. Here's when pgvector on Postgres is enough, and when Pinecone or OpenSearch earns its place. pgvector, vector database, rag Oct 19, 2026 ## [Oracle to Postgres Migration: Real Cost and When to Hire](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/oracle_to_postgres_migration_cost) Oracle support renews every year whether you migrate or not. Here's what moving to PostgreSQL really takes, and where projects stall. oracle to postgres, database migration, postgresql Oct 18, 2026 ## [AI Visual Inspection: Cloud Vision API or Edge Camera?](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/ai_visual_inspection_cloud_vs_edge) Image APIs now cost fractions of a cent per check. That changes where AI defect detection should run on your line, and where it still can't. computer vision, quality control, manufacturing Oct 18, 2026 ## [On-Prem LLM vs Frontier API: When Self-Hosting Pays Off](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/on_prem_llm_vs_frontier_api) Most companies shouldn't run an on premise LLM to save money. Here are the four cases where self-hosting does pay off, and the costs people miss. LLM, AI, on-premise Oct 16, 2026 ## [AWS Mainframe Modernization Is Closed to New Customers. Here's What a Mainframe Exit Looks Like Now](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/aws_mainframe_modernization_closed_alternatives) AWS Mainframe Modernization closed to new customers on July 30, 2026. What changed, what current customers keep, and realistic mainframe exit paths now. mainframe, COBOL, AWS Oct 15, 2026 ## [Hiring an Industrial Automation Consultant: What a SCADA/PLC Integration Project Actually Involves](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/hiring_industrial_automation_consultant) Hiring an industrial automation consultant? What a SCADA/PLC integration project involves, from assessment to commissioning, with costs and red flags. automation, SCADA, PLC Oct 14, 2026 ## [OPC UA vs MQTT: Plant Data to the Cloud Without Replacing PLCs](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/opc_ua_vs_mqtt) OPC UA vs MQTT for plant-floor data: what each does, when to use which, Sparkplug B, Unified Namespace, and a secure, outbound-only edge gateway design. IoT, industrial IoT, OPC UA Oct 13, 2026 ## [Staff augmentation vs. consulting: when to bring in an outside engineering team](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/outside_engineering_team_iot_edge_ai_cloud) When an IoT, edge AI or cloud cost project stalls, should you hire, augment staff or bring in a project team? A buyer's framework for program leads. staff augmentation, IoT integration services, edge AI Oct 12, 2026 ## [Army NGC2 is buying commercial apps: how a small software shop plugs in](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/army_ngc2_commercial_apps) The Army's NGC2 contract awards went to nine commercial app vendors. How the Commercial Solutions Opening works and where small software firms fit. defense, NGC2, Army Oct 11, 2026 ## [DHH's Campfire shootout, part 2: the Elixir port played by different rules](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/dhh_campfire_shootout_part_2) The Campfire repos show Rust could drop Redis and diverge from Rails while Elixir PRs doing the same were turned down. What a fair benchmark needs. Elixir, Rust, benchmarks Oct 11, 2026 ## [Build vs. buy has flipped: when custom AI-built tools beat SaaS](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/build_vs_buy_has_flipped) AI coding agents made custom internal software cheap. When building beats another SaaS subscription, and when it turns into a maintenance trap. build vs buy, AI coding agents, fractional CTO Oct 10, 2026 ## [Fast isn't the same as reliable: what the Campfire reliability test shows](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/fast_isnt_reliable) A reliability test of the Campfire ports: Rust is fastest at light load but drops most messages under heavy load. Rails and Elixir delivered every one. Elixir, Rust, reliability Oct 9, 2026 ## [How to become a software subcontractor for defense primes, from a San Antonio dev shop](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/defense_software_subcontracting) How to become a government subcontractor for defense software work: registration, finding primes, CMMC, ITAR and what primes check before they hire you. defense, subcontracting, CMMC Oct 8, 2026 ## [How companies save millions leaving the mainframe, and why AI-assisted COBOL rewrites still need a plan](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/cobol_modernization_with_ai) AI can rewrite COBOL, but translation isn't migration. How to plan a mainframe modernization that cuts cost: spec first, dual-run, one job at a time. mainframe, COBOL, modernization Oct 7, 2026 ## [Faster ATO for small vendors: SWFT, continuous ATO and FedRAMP 20x explained](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/swft_cato_fedramp_20x) SWFT, continuous ATO and FedRAMP 20x all reward automated security evidence. What small defense software vendors should build in now. ATO, FedRAMP, DevSecOps Oct 6, 2026 ## [398 commits vs 2: how to run a fair language benchmark with AI-written code](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/fair_language_benchmark) The Campfire Rust port had about 400 commits before the benchmark. The Elixir port had two. How to run a fair benchmark when AI agents write the code. benchmarks, Rust, Elixir Oct 5, 2026 ## [The I-35 defense corridor: where software subcontractors fit in Austin and San Antonio](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/i35_defense_corridor) Counter-drone contracts in Austin, drones and secure software in San Antonio: the I-35 defense tech corridor and where software subcontractors fit. defense, San Antonio, Austin Oct 4, 2026 ## [DHH's Campfire shootout: AI agents rewrote one app in Rust, Go and Elixir](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/dhh_campfire_shootout) DHH had AI agents port Campfire from Rails to Rust, Go and Elixir and found Rust fastest. What he actually claimed, and why it's worth taking seriously. Rust, Elixir, AI coding agents Oct 3, 2026 ## [Elixir in fall 2026: gradual types, LiveView 1.2 and AI coding tools](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/elixir_fall_2026) Where Elixir stands in fall 2026: v1.20's gradual type system, Phoenix LiveView 1.2, and Tidewave for AI-assisted Phoenix development. Elixir, Phoenix, LiveView Oct 2, 2026 ## [SBIR/STTR are back through 2031: what to do before the October 21 deadline](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/sbir_sttr_through_2031) SBIR and STTR are reauthorized through 2031 and still running under the continuing resolution. What defense startups should do before the DoW deadline. SBIR, STTR, defense Oct 1, 2026 ## [Same-SIM satellite IoT: what works today](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/satellite_iot_same_sim) Satellite IoT can now run on the same SIM as cellular. Why it's still hard, why many satellite offers don't connect, and what to ask first. IoT, satellite, NTN Oct 1, 2026 ## [What actually sets your z/OS software bill](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/zos_peak_software_cost) z/OS software cost is set by the busiest four hours of the month. How the rolling 4-hour peak works, and how to move the batch behind it. mainframe, z/OS, COBOL May 12, 2026 ## [How we usually find 30–50% of a cloud bill in the first week](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/quietly_cutting_cloud_bills) A field-tested playbook for cloud cost reduction. Where the waste actually hides, what to kill first, and how to put guardrails in so it stops coming back. FinOps, AWS, cost reduction Apr 18, 2026 ## [Migrating clouds without the migration freeze](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/migration_without_downtime) Cloud migrations stall when run as one cutover. How we run them as a series of safe, reversible steps, usually with zero production downtime. migration, AWS, GCP Mar 22, 2026 ## [Infrastructure-as-code that survives the team that wrote it](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/iac_that_survives_the_team) Most Terraform repos rot because of the architecture, not the tool. How to structure IaC so a new engineer can ship a safe change in their first week. IaC, Terraform, OpenTofu Feb 14, 2026 ## [Kubernetes, the boring way](https://axiointelligence.com/blog/kubernetes_the_boring_way) An opinionated default stack for production Kubernetes clusters that are easy to operate, easy to upgrade, and don't surprise you at 3am. Kubernetes, EKS, GitOps Next note Stuck on something we should write about? These notes come from real engagements. If your team is fighting connectivity, a cloud bill or a migration, it’s probably our next note, and a good reason for a scoping call. 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