Serverless Computing
Serverless computing is a cloud computing execution model in which the cloud provider fully manages and dynamically allocates the resources required to execute the code. This model abstracts the server infrastructure from the developer, allowing them to focus purely on writing code without worrying about the underlying systems or server management.
History and Development
The concept of serverless computing began to gain traction around 2014 when AWS Lambda was introduced by Amazon Web Services. AWS Lambda allowed developers to run code without provisioning or managing servers, which was a significant shift from traditional cloud computing where developers had to manage servers even in a cloud environment. Here are some key developments:
How It Works
In serverless computing:
- Developers write and upload code in the form of functions.
- These functions are triggered by events like HTTP requests, database events, or file uploads.
- The cloud provider dynamically allocates resources to execute these functions, scaling automatically as needed.
- Developers only pay for the compute time consumed by their functions, leading to a pay-per-use pricing model.
Key Features
- Event-driven: Functions are executed in response to specific events.
- Scalability: Automatically scales based on demand without manual intervention.
- Stateless: Functions do not retain state between invocations; any required state must be stored externally.
- Cost Efficiency: Pay only for the compute time you consume.
- Reduced Operational Management: No need to manage servers or infrastructure.
Challenges
- Cold Starts: Initial latency when a function is invoked for the first time or after being idle.
- Function Size Limitation: There are limits to how large a single function can be.
- Vendor Lock-in: Heavy reliance on a specific cloud provider's ecosystem can make switching providers difficult.
- Monitoring and Debugging: Traditional debugging tools are less effective in a serverless environment.
Use Cases
- Real-time data processing
- Web applications
- Microservices
- Automated backups
- IoT device management
External Links
Related Concepts