The computing world has undergone a paradigm shift. The era of serverless computing has dawned. Contrary to its name, serverless computing doesn't eliminate servers. It simply means you have fewer servers to manage. Here, let's explore serverless architecture and cover the 14 best platforms that empower you to run your applications with great efficiency.
The evolution of application execution
In traditional applications, the onus of managing the entire application logic execution typically falls on virtual machines (VMs), physical servers, or cloud-based servers. However, a transformative shift is underway, steering us toward serverless architecture. This innovative approach offloads the burden of executing application code to a serverless computing platform. This has a multitude of advantages for the developers.
The serverless advantage
Freedom from Hosting Runtime: Serverless platforms liberate you from concerns about hosting runtimes. Whether you're coding in Node.js, Python, Go, or other languages, the platform handles the complexities of runtime environments.
Cost-Effective Scaling: Pay only for the computing resources your application consumes. Serverless architecture ensures cost-effectiveness, especially in the face of fluctuating workloads.
Seamless Scalability: Say goodbye to sleepless nights worrying about accommodating growing demands. Serverless systems are inherently scalable, automatically adjusting to varying workloads.
Managed Security and Updates: Providers take the reins of security and software updates. This leaves you free to focus on your code without fretting over vulnerabilities or patch management.
Effortless Integration: Serverless platforms offer effortless integration with a spectrum of complementary services offered by the provider. Your application can seamlessly utilize a variety of tools and resources.
Rapid Deployment and Agility: Enjoy the swiftest time-to-deployment and the agility to make changes on the fly. Serverless computing accelerates your development lifecycle. This enables you to respond promptly to evolving requirements.
A boost for developers and businesses
For developers and business owners alike, serverless computing is a game-changer. It allows you to immerse yourself in coding while experts handle the intricacies of execution. If you're venturing into serverless for the first time, consider referring to introductory courses to kickstart your journey.
Exploring the world of FaaS (Functions as a Service)
Now, let's explore the Functions as a Service (FaaS) platforms. These platforms epitomize the essence of serverless computing. They enable you to harness the full potential of your applications.
Oracle Cloud Functions
Provider: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Ruby, Java, .NET, Go, PHP.
Key features - Scalable, event-driven architecture, seamless integration with other Oracle Cloud services.
Overview: Oracle Cloud Functions is Oracle's serverless computing offering. It allows developers to build, deploy, and run code without the need to manage servers or infrastructure. It supports multiple programming languages. It is versatile for a wide range of applications.
Key features
Scalability: Oracle Cloud Functions automatically scales to accommodate changes in workload. This means your applications can handle varying levels of traffic.
Event-Driven Architecture: You can trigger functions in response to various events within the Oracle Cloud ecosystem or external events. This enables event-driven workflows.
Integration: It seamlessly integrates with other Oracle Cloud services including Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle Autonomous Database, and more. This makes it easy to create comprehensive cloud-based applications.
Tencent Cloud SCF (Serverless Cloud Function)
Provider: Tencent Cloud
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, PHP, Ruby, .NET Core, Custom Runtime.
Key features - Pay-as-you-go pricing, seamless integration with Tencent Cloud services, and event-driven triggers.
Overview: Tencent Cloud SCF, or Serverless Cloud Function, is Tencent Cloud's serverless computing platform. It enables developers to build serverless applications efficiently with support for multiple programming languages and a range of use cases.
Key features
Pay-as-You-Go: You pay only for the computing resources used. This makes it a cost-effective choice for applications with varying workloads.
Integration: Tencent Cloud SCF seamlessly integrates with other Tencent Cloud services, allowing you to leverage additional cloud capabilities.
Event-Driven Triggers: You can set up functions to be triggered by various events, including changes in Tencent Cloud services or external events.
Auth0 Webtasks
Provider: Auth0
Language: Node.js
Use Cases: Serverless authentication, custom login flows, and extending Auth0 functionality.
Overview: Auth0 Webtasks is a unique serverless computing platform provided by Auth0, specializing in serverless authentication and custom login flows. While it focuses on a specific use case, it offers powerful capabilities in that domain.
Key features
Serverless Authentication: Auth0 Webtasks simplifies serverless authentication by providing pre-built functions and custom authentication flows.
Customization: You can extend Auth0's functionality by creating custom serverless functions in Node.js, allowing you to tailor authentication and authorization processes.
Security: Auth0 is known for its security features, and Webtasks inherit those benefits, ensuring the security of your authentication processes.
Google Cloud Functions
Provider: Google Cloud
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, PHP.
Key features - Event-driven computing, autoscaling, seamless integration with Google Cloud services.
Overview: Google Cloud Functions is Google's serverless computing platform. It allows you to run your code in response to various events. It supports multiple languages and offers a range of triggers for event-driven workflows.
Key features
Event-Driven Computing: Google Cloud Functions enables you to build applications that respond to events like changes in Cloud Storage, incoming HTTP requests, and more.
Autoscaling: The platform automatically scales based on the number of incoming requests. This ensures your functions can handle varying workloads.
Integration: It seamlessly integrates with other Google Cloud services. This feature allows the creation of comprehensive cloud-based applications.
IBM Cloud Functions
Provider: IBM Cloud
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Swift, PHP, Java, Go, .NET Core, Custom Runtime.
Key features - Event-driven architecture, pay-as-you-go pricing, seamless integration with IBM Cloud services.
Overview: IBM Cloud Functions is IBM's serverless computing platform. With IBM Cloud Functions, developers can build and deploy applications without managing servers. It supports multiple programming languages and integrates with various IBM Cloud services.
Key features
Event-Driven Architecture: IBM Cloud Functions enables you to trigger functions in response to events. These include changes in data, incoming HTTP requests, or scheduled events.
Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: You pay only for the compute resources used during function execution. This makes it cost-effective for various workloads.
Integration: It seamlessly integrates with other IBM Cloud services. This allows you to leverage additional cloud capabilities.
Alibaba Cloud Function Compute
Provider: Alibaba Cloud
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Go, .NET, Custom Runtime.
Key features - Pay-as-you-go pricing, seamless integration with Alibaba Cloud services, and event-driven architecture.
Overview: Alibaba Cloud Function Compute is Alibaba's serverless computing offering that allows developers to build and deploy applications with reduced infrastructure management overhead. It supports multiple programming languages and integrates seamlessly with Alibaba Cloud services.
Key features
Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: You pay only for the compute resources used during function execution, making it a cost-effective choice for various applications.
Integration: It seamlessly integrates with other Alibaba Cloud services, enabling you to create comprehensive cloud-based solutions.
Event-Driven Architecture: You can trigger functions in response to various events, such as changes in Object Storage, HTTP requests, or timers.
Azure Functions - Microsoft Cloud Computing Services
Provider: Microsoft Azure
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, C#, F#, Java, PowerShell, TypeScript, Bash, Custom Runtime.
Key features - Event-driven computing, pay-as-you-go pricing, seamless integration with Azure services.
Overview: Azure Functions is Microsoft Azure's serverless computing platform. It enables developers to build, deploy, and scale applications without managing infrastructure. It supports a wide range of programming languages. It can integrate seamlessly with Azure services.
Key features
Event-Driven Computing: Azure Functions allows you to trigger functions in response to events. These include changes in Azure Storage, incoming HTTP requests, or messages from Azure Service Bus.
Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: You pay only for the compute resources used during function execution. This optimized the costs for your applications.
Integration: It seamlessly integrates with various Azure services, making it easy to create complex, cloud-based solutions.
StackPath EdgeEngine
Provider: StackPath
Languages Supported: JavaScript (V8 engine).
Key features - Low-latency edge computing, API Gateway, load balancing, image optimization, and user authentication.
Overview: StackPath EdgeEngine is a serverless computing platform that runs code at the edge, close to the user's location. It offers low-latency processing, making it ideal for applications requiring quick responses.
Key features
Low-Latency Edge Computing: StackPath EdgeEngine ensures minimal latency for your applications, enhancing user experiences.
API Gateway: It provides API gateway capabilities for routing requests and managing endpoints.
Load Balancing: You can load balance traffic across multiple locations to improve application availability and performance.
Image Optimization: StackPath offers image optimization features to enhance content delivery.
User Authentication: It supports user authentication and authorization, making it suitable for secure applications.
Deno Deploy
Provider: Deno
Language: JavaScript (Deno).
Use Cases: Serverless JavaScript hosting, edge functions, static sites, and applications.
Overview: Deno Deploy is a serverless hosting platform designed for hassle-free JavaScript hosting. It allows you to deploy projects without configuration, making it developer-friendly and versatile for various applications.
Key features
Customizable User Workflows: Deno Deploy enables customizable user workflows through JavaScript integration.
Secure Scaling: It supports secure scaling with multi-tenancy, ensuring reliable performance for applications.
Precise Resource Control: You can maintain precise control over resources in multi-tenant workloads, optimizing resource allocation.
DigitalOcean Cloud Hosting for Builders
Provider: DigitalOcean
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Docker, Custom Runtime.
Key features - Hassle-free deployment, built-in security, auto-scaling, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD).
Overview: The DigitalOcean App Platform is a serverless hosting platform that allows developers to publish code directly to DigitalOcean servers. It simplifies the deployment process and supports popular programming languages.
Key features
Hassle-Free Deployment: You can deploy code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure, making it easy to launch apps quickly.
Built-in Security: DigitalOcean App Platform provides built-in security features to protect your applications.
Auto-Scaling: It automatically scales based on demand, ensuring reliable performance during traffic spikes.
CI/CD Integration: The platform supports continuous integration and continuous deployment workflows for efficient development.
Vercel
Provider: Vercel
Languages Supported: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Ruby, Go, Rust, PHP.
Key features - Front-end cloud platform, comprehensive toolkit, end-to-end testing on localhost, seamless backend integration.
Overview: Vercel is a front-end cloud platform designed for developers working on web applications. It offers a comprehensive toolkit and seamless integration with backends, providing a full-stack development experience.
Key features
Front-End Cloud Platform: Vercel equips developers with the tools and infrastructure needed for front-end development, enhancing web experiences.
Comprehensive Toolkit: It offers a wide range of tools for web development, including API management, image optimization, and performance enhancements.
End-to-end Testing: You can perform end-to-end testing on localhost, streamlining development and testing processes.
Backend Integration: Vercel seamlessly integrates with backend services, making it suitable for full-stack development.
AWS Lambda Provider: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Provider – AWS Lambda
Languages Supported: Node.js, Python, Go, Java, C#, and more.
Key features - Seamless integration with AWS products, stateless Lambda functions, high availability, extensive logging and monitoring, and automatic scaling.
Overview: AWS Lambda, by Amazon Web Services (AWS), is one of the pioneers in serverless computing platforms. It allows you to run your code without the need to manage servers. This makes AWS Lambda highly efficient and scalable. AWS Lambda supports various programming languages. It seamlessly integrates with other AWS services.
Key features
Seamless Integration with AWS Products: AWS Lambda integrates effortlessly with other AWS services, enhancing its capabilities.
Stateless Lambda Functions: Lambda functions are stateless. This means they don't retain information from previous invocations, ensuring reliability.
High Availability: AWS Lambda provides a high-availability infrastructure. It reduces downtime and ensures your applications are always accessible.
Extensive Logging and Monitoring: It offers comprehensive logging and monitoring tools. These enable you to track and troubleshoot your functions effectively.
Automatic Scaling: Lambda functions automatically scale in response to incoming traffic, ensuring optimal performance.
Provider – Cloudflare
Languages Supported: JavaScript (V8 engine)
Key features Edge computing, V8 JS engine for fast execution, integration with Serverless framework, cost-effective pricing.
Overview: Cloudflare Workers is a serverless computing platform offered by Cloudflare, known for its CDN and security services. With Cloudflare Workers, you can run JavaScript code at more than 150 data centers worldwide, ensuring low-latency execution. It leverages the V8 JS engine for high-speed processing, making it an excellent choice for applications that require quick responses.
Key features
Edge Computing: Cloudflare Workers execute code at the edge, close to the user's location, reducing latency and improving user experiences.
V8 JS Engine for Fast Execution: The platform utilizes the V8 JavaScript engine for rapid code execution.
Integration with Serverless Framework: You can integrate Cloudflare Workers with the Serverless framework for streamlined deployment and management.
Cost-Effective Pricing: Cloudflare Workers offer cost-effective pricing plans, making them accessible for a wide range of applications.
AWS Fargate Capacity Providers
Provider - Amazon Fargate
Languages Supported: Compatibility with various languages through containerization.
Key features Serverless container management, pay-as-you-go pricing, support for AI and ML development, dedicated runtime environment, and integration with Amazon CloudWatch Container Insights.
Overview: Want to build applications without the hassle of managing servers then here’s the best solution. AWS Fargate is Amazon's serverless compute engine designed to run containers. It offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to build serverless applications without the need to manage underlying infrastructure. Fargate handles scaling, patching, and securing servers, simplifying the entire container management process.
Key features
Serverless Container Management: AWS Fargate provides serverless container management, eliminating the need for server management.
Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: You pay based on the CPU resources, memory, and storage used, optimizing cost-efficiency.
Support for AI and ML Development: Fargate offers a dedicated runtime environment for AI and ML development, facilitating advanced applications.
Dedicated Runtime Environment: It ensures a dedicated runtime environment for Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes (EKS). This enhances security and isolation.
Integration with Amazon CloudWatch Container Insights: You can monitor your applications effectively using Amazon CloudWatch Container Insights integration.
Conclusion
Going serverless is a great way to save on hosting and infrastructure management costs. While moving legacy applications can be challenging, building modern new applications with serverless architecture offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, and reduced administrative overhead. Depending on your specific project requirements, programming language preferences, and cloud ecosystem, choose the serverless computing platform that best suits your needs.
These 14 serverless computing platforms provide a wide range of options to help you build, deploy, and manage your applications efficiently. This will give you the space to focus on writing code and delivering value to your users. Whether you're building simple scripts or complex enterprise-ready applications, serverless computing is an essential part of modern application development.
