You might have heard the buzz around the term "serverless", but what exactly is it and how does it differ from traditional server-based architecture? Simply put, serverless refers to a model of computing where the cloud vendor is responsible for managing the infrastructure necessary to run and scale the application.

The term "serverless" is a bit of a misnomer as servers are still used, but the core concept is that developers no longer have to worry about server infrastructure. This new architecture has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, completely changing the way organizations approach application development and deployment.

Benefits

Traditionally, running an application required the purchase of server hardware, installation of software, and maintenance of the infrastructure. This can be both expensive and time-consuming. Serverless architecture, on the other hand, frees developers from managing the underlying infrastructure, allowing them to focus on writing and deploying code and managing the data.

This serverless approach allows for faster development and deployment of applications as code can be written independently from the actual application and released in a more streamlined fashion. For cloud computing the cloud vendor only charges for the duration of the code execution, which makes it a cost-effective solution, especially for applications that are not constantly running. Other services such as databases and authentication are billed similarly with the addition of charging for stored data.

With the widespread adoption of cloud services, serverless architecture has become a very popular alternative to traditional infrastructure. Many of the top tech companies offer serverless services and many developers have started using serverless for a variety of use cases such as web applications, mobile applications, and data processing.

Pros And Cons Of Serverless

The primary benefit of serverless is its scalability. Because resources are allocated on demand, you can quickly and easily scale your applications up or down in response to changing traffic patterns. This not only saves you money, but it also ensures that your applications are responsive and performant at all times.

Serverless also has very high uptime guarantees. It's measured by the number of nines after 99%. It always felt a little silly to me to measure it this way but if work it out it means that over a year your application will experience only a few minutes of downtime.

Also serverless platforms like to provide many services. Many of these are available as open source services too, but if you use a serverless solution you're usually getting the latest and greatest. For example: AWS.

This can be very helpful but keep in mind that this means being locked-in to a serverless provider, especially if you use one of the more exotic services.

Another advantage of serverless computing is its cost efficiency. You only pay for the resources that you use, you don't have to worry about overprovisioning or paying for idle resources. This can result in significant cost savings, especially for applications with unpredictable or variable workloads. And some services, like Firebase which I'm using, are actually free to start.

However serverless is not always cheaper, especially for consistent predictable tasks. Serverless providers may also charge for extra services like monitoring, logging, and security which may inflate the cost. And I've heard some people claiming that renting a server (form a place like Digital Ocean) is actually cheaper than a fully serverless solution.

Also one of the most common complaints about serverless is the issue of cold start times. As functions are only instantiated when they are needed, there may be a delay in response time when a new function is called for the first time. Although there are mitigation methods like creating custom warm-up scripts.

In addition, serverless architectures can limit your control over the infrastructure. As the cloud provider is responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure, you may be limited in your ability to customize or optimize your system.

Finally, debugging serverless applications can be more challenging than traditional architectures. With a traditional infrastructure, you can easily see all of the components of your system and track down issues that arise. However, with a serverless architecture, components may be spread across multiple services and instances, making it more difficult to pinpoint the source of a problem.

Is Serverless Worth It?

Now the big question is: is serverless worth it? The answer, as usual, depends on the unique needs and circumstances of your organization.

One potential benefit to consider is scalability. If your application experiences unpredictable traffic or has seasonal spikes, serverless may be a good choice as it can automatically scale based on demand. This means you only pay for the resources you use, avoiding the over-provisioning and associated costs of traditional infrastructure.

Another use case that benefits from serverless is event-driven applications, in which an action triggers a series of related tasks. These tasks can be executed independently by functions, reducing the need for a separate orchestration layer and simplifying the overall architecture. Microservices, which allow you to break down a larger application into smaller, more manageable parts, are also a good fit for serverless architecture.

However, one potential drawback to consider is the possibility of cold start times, during which a function needs to be spun up after being idle for a period of time. This can lead to delays in application responsiveness, which may be unacceptable in certain cases. Additionally, some developers may prefer more control over the infrastructure and environment in which their applications are deployed, which may not be possible with serverless architecture.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision to move to serverless architecture should be made carefully and deliberately, taking into account your organization's specific needs and the potential drawbacks. While serverless may not be the right choice for every use case, it's a powerful tool that can bring significant value to those who choose to adopt it.

It's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different organizations will have different needs and priorities, and there are certainly situations where a traditional infrastructure will be a better choice. However, for many businesses, serverless architecture represents a major step forward in terms of scalability, efficiency, and cost savings.

By embracing the power of serverless computing, organizations can unlock new levels of efficiency and scalability that were once unimaginable.

This post was mostly generated by GPT-3.5-Turbo and was originally made for internal purposes only but I decided it was good enough to publish (after a few edits). If you liked this article be sure to give it a few claps. Also considering following me on one of my publications: The Rest Of The Story (RSS) or Lost But Coding (RSS). You can do so with my RSS reader Echo available one iOS (and Apple Silicon Macs) and Android.