QCon London 2025: The Origin Story of AMQP - Advanced Message Queuing Politics
Briefly

During his QCon London keynote, John O'Hara discussed the creation of the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) stemming from the challenges at JP Morgan. Addressing limitations in existing middleware, he shared an impactful moment from his work with a derivatives trading system that underscored the critical need for reliable solutions. O'Hara detailed the collaborative efforts required among diverse stakeholders to navigate patent challenges and align motivations—demonstrating the complexities involved in developing a technology like AMQP, which aimed to standardize middleware and mitigate vendor dependency.
And three years in, writing the Swift gateway for a derivatives trading system, and we put it live. And I watched as the first... message came up in the system. The first thing it did was make two billion dollars in collateral calls... and I just stared at the screen and thought, 'Well, that's the most interesting console message I'll ever see.' You know, really brought it home.
O'Hara emphasized the critical importance of building robust communication protocols to address the specific business needs at JP Morgan and beyond, remarking on the collaborative efforts required.
The intricate dynamics of bringing AMQP to fruition involved engaging a spectrum of stakeholders, managing patent risks, and aligning diverse motivations, showcasing the complexity of large-scale tech development.
AMQP emerged not just as a solution for JP Morgan but as a broader push towards standardizing middleware, enhancing interoperability, and reducing vendor lock-in across industries.
Read at InfoQ
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