Direct2DB: Radically Simplified App Architecture with Kotlin

In this talk, Mike Hearn argues that the combination of Kotlin, Jetpack Compose Multiplatform, and a tool called Hydraulic Conveyor makes it realistic to radically simplify the design of typical database applications. This 'Direct2DB' model eliminates web servers, load balancers, and REST APIs, allowing desktop and mobile apps to connect directly to a relational database using JDBC. The database handles RPC, streaming, and authentication, while Kotlin and Jetpack Compose manage client-side logic. Conveyor simplifies packaging and updates, making deployment as easy as with a web app. Hearn demonstrates an application built this way, discussing its advantages, disadvantages, and future directions.