Explore the concept of service mesh and its impact on distributed applications in this comprehensive conference talk. Delve into the backbone of communication in distributed systems and discover how a service mesh can independently control complex non-functional work. Learn about key features such as load balancing, traffic management, fault tolerance, end-to-end monitoring, dynamic routing, and secure communication. Examine the popular Istio technology and its major functionalities in implementing a service mesh. Through various examples ranging from new microservices designs to legacy monoliths, gain insights into the benefits and potential complexities of incorporating a service mesh into different application types. Understand how this technology simplifies application design and where it may introduce additional complexity, helping you make informed decisions about implementing a service mesh in your own projects.