Community Blog

"Software developers will go to great lengths to be lazy. This is a great example of that."

That was the opening pitch from Khal Elsawaf, Lead Architect at Morgan Stanley, during his standing-room-only demo at OSFF NY. His problem was universal: Architecture documentation is essential, but doing it manually in Visio or PowerPoint is painful. The diagrams rot the moment they are saved, and the "SAD" (Solution Architecture Description) documents are usually, well... sad.

Enter CALM (Common Architecture Language Model) and its new AI Copilot.

In a live, high-wire demo, Khal built a complex trading system architecture in under 10 minutes—and here is the kicker: He didn't write a single line of JSON.

30-Second Download

• The Player: Morgan Stanley Lead Architect Khal Elsawaf demoed the Common Architecture Language Model (CALM) live at OSFF NY.

• The Tech: A showcase of Architecture as Code—building a complex trading system in under 10 minutes using natural language prompts (AI) instead of writing raw JSON.

• The ROI: Transforming "SAD" (Solution Architecture Description) documents from static, rotting artifacts into living code that auto-generates block diagrams, sequence flows, and documentation tables simultaneously.

• The Takeaway: How engineers are moving from manual, static diagrams to "talking" to their architecture to drive massive efficiency and accuracy.

In the world of modern software architecture, APIs provide the connectivity, but orchestration provides the logic. Whether you are chaining microservices, managing long-running transactions, or coordinating AI agents, the "glue" that holds your APIs together is becoming just as critical as the endpoints themselves.

This December 11th, at apidays Paris, FINOS (The Fintech Open Source Foundation) is bringing a new, production-grade answer to the orchestration challenge: Fluxnova.

In this episode of the FINOS podcast, Grizz Griswold interviews George Kichukov from GitLab to discuss the transformative effect of open-source technology in financial services. The conversation covers the adoption of secure open-source practices, the importance of a strong engineering culture, and the benefits of contributing back to the open-source community. George shares insights from his 20-year career, including his extensive experience at Citibank, and elaborates on his current role in improving software delivery at GitLab. The episode also highlights upcoming events like the Open Source and Finance Forum (OSFF) and the vital role of sponsors in fostering industry collaboration.

In this episode of the FINOS podcast, Grizz Griswold interviews Daniel Paes, a FINOS Ambassador. They discuss concepts like data mesh, data contracts, and the use of open source tools like Legend and CDM in data governance. Daniel shares his journey from a business intelligence analyst in Brazil to a principal director at a CloudOps and DataOps company in Canada. They also talk about the Open Source and Finance Forum (OSFF), upcoming events, and Daniel’s innovative projects like Runink. This episode offers insights into the adoption of open source tools in financial services and practical applications of data governance models.

In this episode of the FINOS podcast, Grizz Griswold interviews Mike Long, CEO and founder of Kosli. They discuss the challenges of AI readiness and managing risk in financial services, focusing on the importance of common control definitions in SDLC processes. Mike shares his journey from studying AI and computer science to founding Kosli, emphasizing the role of automation in governance and compliance. The conversation highlights the significance of community and collaboration within FINOS to solve industry-level problems, touching on AI, regulatory compliance, and the future of governance automation. Mike also reflects on the evolution of agent-based solutions and their applications in current tech environments. Tune in for insights on making engineering processes more efficient and the importance of shared understanding in tech and compliance.

In the high-stakes world of financial services, the imperative to innovate is matched only by the demand for rigorous compliance. At FINOS, the Fintech Open Source Foundation, we believe open source offers a transformative solution to this challenge—bringing together financial institutions, technology firms, and regulators to collaboratively build trusted, interoperable standards and tools.

This July, we’re proud to take that mission deeper into Europe for the Linux Foundation Europe Roadshow in Milan, taking place on 8 July, 2025!

In this episode of the FINOS podcast, join Grizz Griswold and Rob Moffat from FINOS as they discuss the latest updates in FDC3, a versatile interoperability standard originally designed for financial services but applicable universally. Learn about the evolution of FDC3 version 2.2, the newly released SAIL 2.0 tool, and the upcoming Open Source in Finance Forum in London. Discover the significance of open standards, vendor collaboration, and identity security in the realm of financial technology. Whether you are a developer or a finance professional, this episode offers valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of open source in finance.

In this episode of the FINOS podcast, Grizz Griswold interviews Chris Plank from NatWest Bank and Derik Evangelisa from Syntasso. They delve into the evolution of platform engineering, open-source technologies, and how NatWest uses cloud-native tools to deliver platforms as a product.

Learn about the innovative Kratix framework, its role in enabling developers, and how open-source principles are being adopted in financial services. Whether you're a technical enthusiast or on the business side, this discussion provides valuable insights into modernizing IT practices and fostering innovation.