Do you know anything about serverless platforms? I mean to say do you have any knowledge that what are serverless platforms? how do they work? What is the importance of using them and so on?
Ok well, you needn’t worry about it. I am here to explain to you everything related to serverless platforms from the scratch level. So the topic is also beneficial for beginners as well as for others.
Our today’s topic of discussion is serverless platforms. You people might hear that nowadays companies are trying to be more agile and enhance their working efficiency. Do you think why companies need serverless platforms? The answer is to gain scalability companies are using serverless platforms. Also, companies are making deals with vendors who provide them a secure and reliable infrastructure for computing purposes. The only task you have to perform is to find a suitable infrastructure for your project.
So before deep-diving into the concept of serverless platforms let me define to you the key term used in this topic that is serverless computing. The three big cloud platforms are Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
What is the concept of Serverless Computing?
You may be thinking if I am going to tell you about the serverless platforms then I am starting with serverless computing. But the important thing is that you have to understand serverless computing first in order to understand the serverless platforms. The serverless means there will be the use of a server but that will not be in control of the user.
You can assume it as utility computing. In serverless computing, you can use cloud platforms for efficiency and cost-saving purpose. The ultimate purpose of serverless computing is to provide the user with a facility to run code on the cloud. The use of serverless computing is increasing at a very high rate.
You might be thinking that why to use serverless computing or benefits or say reasons that serverless computing is the best thing nowadays. There are few benefits of using serverless computing are better utilization, security, and power separation.
More companies are promoting serverless computing. It includes Backend as a service for cloud-based applications. However, another service is a Function as service that works on parts of code. It enhances the server-side app flexibility.
So I think the above explanation can help you to understand better serverless computing and its use in today’s technology world.
What do you mean by the term Serverless platform?
The next very important question arises that if serverless computing is mean to provide scalability, security and many other befits then what is the purpose of the serverless platform.
You may be thinking about the role of serverless platforms. So here is the answer, In serverless platforms, there is a model that uses a few computing containers. These containers provide two important benefits. The first is a software function and the second is better communication.
The serverless platform means serverless architecture that means you needn’t worry about the configuration of the server. However, computing power is kept on changing due to the activity of the user. There are few features of this platform like abstraction which means you only have to handle the functionality.
However, rest all things such as the operating system will be handled by a third party. The serverless platforms are flexible also which means you will get more resources as your computing need increases. The most important feature of them is cost-efficiency.
Don’t you think the concept of a serverless platform is quite amazing? Then why not to use it and have a try.
Why use Serverless Platforms?
After all the understanding related to serverless computing, serverless platforms you may be thinking of why you have to choose the serverless platforms instead of any other platform. So, A serverless platform enhances scalability and optimizes costs. There is no need for server space at all.
It is up to your need whether to increase or decrease computing power. But you have to use some serverless monitor tool. To elaborate on the reason why serverless platforms are best I am going to share a few benefits of this platform. The platform is responsible for the overall performance of the server. Few benefits of using this platform are mentioned below:
- Deployment is easy
- Cost efficiency
- Enhanced efficiency
- Supports customer satisfaction
- Improved scalability
- Simplified hosting and computing
- Flexible
- Provides latency improvement
- UX facility
Therefore if you are getting these many benefits by making use of a serverless platform so I think it is a better choice to rely on. Don’t you think so?
So here I am going to discuss serverless platforms so that you can dig deep into the concept of serverless computing. I am elaborating on these platforms one by one so that you can understand them in detail. The names of few serverless platforms are as follows:
- IBM OpenWhisk/Bluemix
- Kubeless
- IronFunctions
- OpenLambda
- Fission
- OpenFass
- Fn Project
- Google App Engine
- AWS Lambda
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Functions
- AWS CloudWatch
- Alibaba
- Auth0
- Cloudflare workers
- Contentful
- DataDog
- Zappier
- Now
- Edge Engine
Now I will move forward to the elaboration section in which you will get the detailed descriptions of these serverless platforms are as follows:
IBM OpenWhisk/Bluemix
First of all, we will start with the IBM openWhisk. So, IBM Bluemix and OpenWhisk are two different things where Bluemix is a platform as a service offering and Apache OpenWhisk is a Function as a service. The openWhisk is a serverless platform that is part of Bluemix. Because of openwhisk, you can monitor the FaaS platform.
Extension and customization are possible in the case of openwhisk. You can use HTTP requests for function triggering. It has some security and storage issues. But still few other advantages are:
- Allows activity log polling using the command-line interface.
- Openwhisk generally focuses on activities that are associated with the execution of functions.
Also Read Reasons Why Python Language is famous among Data Scientists?
Kubeless
In this platform, you can use the Kafka message system. You can trigger functions by use of HTTP events. The platform works as a function as a service platform that is Kubernetes based. It is compatible with Golang, Node.js, Ruby, and .net languages.
The platform helps you to make advanced applications with the use of function as a service. You just have to write a small code and deploy it without thinking about infrastructure. Few other advantages are as follows:
- Acts as a clone for AWS lambda, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure
- Provides services of Kubernetes primitives
- Serverless framework plugin
- Supports CLI compliance with AWS Lambda CLI
IronFunctions
This serverless platform is developed in the Go language. This serverless framework provides cohesive microservices. It integrates with existing services also and uses Docker. It works as an open-source function as a service platform. This platform supports AWS Lambda format and you can run it anywhere. It is very for developers to use this platform. You can write your application code in any language. Few benefits of this platform are:
- Very simple code
- No servers to manage
- Provides cost-efficiency
- Efficient resource usage
- Easy scaling and management
OpenLambda
This serverless platform uses an apache license for computations. The platform is written in the Go language. It uses Linux containers. The motive of this serverless platform is to understand new serverless computing approaches.
It is mostly used for root privileges related operations. It is working only on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. The other features that belong to this platform are:
- Rapidly changes
- Quick and automatic scaling
- No use of configuration for scaling
Fission
This is a framework to be used for serverless functions on Kubernetes. It is compatible with Python, C#, PHP, Go languages. It supports HTTP and triggers the message queue. You can use workflows that can help you to generate complex flows to span functions.
You need to write a small code and then map it with an HTTP request. It doesn’t manage any Docker registries. There are few other features related to this framework as:
- Instant function deployment
- No need to build containers
- More focus on coding
- Portability
- Supports extension and customization
OpenFass
It uses Docker Swarm for triggering through the HTTP endpoint. It provides you with the facility to turn Linux and windows processes into functions. However, these functions run in containers by using Kubernetes.
With the use of this platform, it is quite easy to deploy functions and code on Kubernetes. There are a few other advantages of this platform as follows:
- Simpler and powerful Platform
- Can run on any cloud either public or private
- Helps in building microservices
- Automatic scaling facility
- Supports fault-tolerant and uses function storage
- Provides templates
Fn Project
The platform is written in the Go language. It is a serverless platform that makes use of the container. The platform allows you to run it anywhere and supports different runtimes. It is compatible with the HTTP endpoint for triggering functions. Some other features of this platform are:
- Easy use
- Different programming languages support
- Provides high performance
- Easy to do extensions
Google App Engine
It is a solution so that developers can easily make applications of fully-fledged quality. However, if you are using Google Engine needn’t think about scaling and performance parameters.
It is quite similar to AWS that scales up to provide event-driven applications. Some other advantages of this platform are:
- Provides high scalability
- Supports zero servers management
- Provides Agility
- Open and flexible
- Supports powerful programming languages
AWS Lambda
This platform service is developed by Amazon in the year 2015. It is a serverless service used for computing purposes. The platform uses event for function triggering and automatically manages the computing resources.
It is famous among developers these days. Using this platform you only have to pay according to your use. The deployment of this platform is quite simpler. However, for integration, it uses a monitoring tool called Dashbird.io. There are a few other advantages of it are:
- Provides share of the service market that is approximately 80% of function
- Flawless Integration
- Acts as software as a service platform
- Uses Node.js for development
- You needn’t bother about functionality
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft azure facilitates users with a function runtime engine to enhance flexibility. It provides various language runtimes. It uses Azure Storage Blob, HTTP request, and other services of Azure functions. For the functions, it uses a configuration model that is structured. Various input bindings are allowed to be used in Azure for functions.
It allows simplification of code that is needed for integration purposes. A few other integrations provided are text message send through Twilio and Emails through SendGrid. Few other features are:
- Use of Azure Monitor for monitoring purpose
- Azure Active Directory to provide security
- Azure Key Vault for storage of sensitive information
Google Cloud Functions
In comparison, you can say it provides fewer facilities than AWS and Azure. It uses various other services like bucket notification of cloud storage and Firebase events. For monitoring, it supports Stackdriver by providing an integration service.
It is a type of security system that can also check the function code behavior using Stackdriver Debugger. It is an event-driven platform. Its triggering way is quite similar to AWS lambda other advantages of this are:
- It is a node.js environment that is manageable.
- Provides high scalability and enhanced performance
- Secure management
- Can be used for small code units
AWS CloudWatch
It is associated with AWS Lambda to provide two types of services that are monitoring and logging. To achieve better service from the serverless platform you need the help of IT services. Cloudwatch facilitates you with the aggregation of logs and the collection of metrics.
It allows you to integrate cloud watch with Lambda for customization of platform operations. It makes use of Cloudwatch events, log streams, and metric alarms to perform well.
- The functions responses to events in the AWS account.
- You can use functions for log streaming.
- A simple notification service is used for alarms.
Alibaba
It provides excellent serverless services. It is a Function as a service platform that uses Java, python, and PHP languages. However using Function Compute various triggers supported by it are HTTP endpoints, notifications for object store, and CDN events.
It supports record changes, MNS message service, and log entries. It is based on Resource Access Management security policies. You can use this platform for the development of code. Other advantages of this platform are:
- Automatic Log collection and aggregation
- Observation support
- Simple trigger process
- Uses secured Model
- Needn’t pay for inactive hours
Auth0
This platform acts as serverless identity Management. You can use this platform for identity-based integrations and addressing. For instance, you can consider the example of single sign-on support.
You can implement Auth0 in the application within 5 minutes. Besides you just have to write down a code of few lines. You can integrate with any framework and application. There are a few other features of it:
- Fast identity implementation
- Reduces resource wastage
- Quick response to user need
- Minimal application impact
- Provides consistent login experience
Cloudflare Workers
It is a serverless platform that works as a Security Company and is CDN. Also, using this platform, it is easy to run JavaScript on various data centers. For instance, if you want JavaScript to run at a faster rate you can use Cloudflare workers which makes use of the V8 JS engine. For fast deployment, you can use this platform. Few other advantages of using the platform are:
- Provides automatic scale facility
- Acts as a global network providing high performance
- You can choose a template of your choice say JS, rust, or C
- Affordable
- In-Built edge storage
Contentful
This platform works as a serverless content management system. It supports various featured APIs. You can easily extend this platform’s dashboard due to its flexibility feature. It is modern technology to handle the content. Using this platform you can use one hub to handle all the content.
You can publish this content to any channel. It has 10000 websites in production. Few other features of this platform are:
- Used by digital leaders and business
- used by developers at a larger extent
- Use intuitive web application for marketing
- Agile workflows
- Structured content
DataDog
It is a modern monitoring and analytical serverless platform. The platform provides services such as application-level telemetry and monitoring of infrastructure. It aggregates logs, traces, and metrics through a cloud monitoring platform. This platform also provides a facility of software as a service and cloud providers.
It makes it possible to easily control the sources and track the bugs. The platform supports monitoring and instrumentation services. Some other features of this platform are:
- Provides centralized system view
- Faster troubleshoot mechanism
- Enhanced network performance
- Provides various automation tools
- Supports database and server components
Zappier
It is used for automating the workflows and helps in connecting applications. The platform can integrate with various other platforms. It has its interface and you needn’t require developer-level knowledge to work with this platform.
It provides easier automation services by moving automatically between various web applications. With help of zappier, it is quite easy to integrate with few clicks. Some other advantages of this platform are:
- Provides easy automation
- No need for any code
- Connects to daily use applications like Google
- Automatic routine task finishing
- Provides flexible plans to use
Now
This serverless platform is popular among developers. You just have to perform two tasks: building and pushing the code and all other work are managed by the platform. You needn’t think much about host optimization and configuration management.
It is supportive for various programming languages such as PHP, Node.js, React and Go. Some other features are as follows:
- Provides time-saving features like rebuilding changes only
- Quick deployment within seconds
- The free version is available
- Provides scalability according to the need of the application
Edge Engine
The serverless platform is provided by StackPath. It executes functions at a faster rate which are written in Perl, Go, C and PHP. The server has very low latency. It also facilitates the user with a scalability option.
You have to pay $10 for a month to execute 15 million requests. However to use this platform you simply have to upload your code. Few other features of this platform are:
- Provides personalization content related to user
- Improves the performance of the application
- Supports unlimited scripting
- Easy deployment approach
- Facilities image optimization
Conclusion
The serverless system is giving indications of arriving at development. However, these platforms are based on next-generation cloud services. Nowadays more focus is provided on the improvement of plugging gaps and existing abilities of serverless platforms. Recently, a greater amount of exclusive components are released and made accessible to an extensive network.
Serverless platforms help you to think beyond the traditional servers. Serverless platforms offer reliability and various support services by reducing costs. So if these serverless platforms are providing you enough benefits that you are seeking in any platform then you should try them at least once.
But keep in mind one thing that choose the serverless platform according to your requirements. Just don’t get influenced by the features of any platform. Once your need is defined then go for checking which serverless platform suits better to your requirement. So that you can gain the maximum benefits.
Also, vendors are attempting to accelerate the standardization process. Various platform alternatives are available now that provide productivity.
I just hope you will get the better platform option from the above-mentioned list which would be suitable for your application requirements. You can help us by telling us about a few other serverless platforms through comments. I hope the article is informative for you. Please keep sharing and give your valuable comments so that I can improve more.