Serverless framework
Serverless Framework is an open source project and popular choice for many Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers who wish to quickly construct and deploy serverless applications using services like AWS Lambda and Amazon API Gateway. It was first introduced in October 2015 under the name JAWS.
With Python on AWS, for example, Serverless Framework creates the self-contained Python environment, including all dependencies. Then, it packages that environment into the standardized zip file for AWS Lambda and creates all of the associated AWS resources required for deployment in an AWS CloudFormation template.
Finally, it copies the code to AWS and initiates the CloudFormation stack creation or update, which provisions AWS services for the serverless application.
Serverless Framework does this by providing an event queue into which a combination of standard provided packages and templates can be combined with additional open source plugins to expand the functionality.
This event queue allows plugin developers to create hooks and alter the behaviors and outputs of each stage of the process.
Why use serverless?
With a serverless architecture, you focus purely on the individual functions in your application code. Our devops teams work and recommend services such as AWS Lambda and Microsoft Azure Functions that take care of all the physical hardware, virtual machine operating system, and web server software management. At SouthLights we belive that serverless technology has this top 3 benefits we picked from dashbird article:
1. Serverless is easy to deploy
A serverless approach for your application could be perfect. If you need to spin up an app fast, serverless might be your solution. Instead of weeks and months to deploy an app, you can do it within hours and days. The reason behind this is that you don’t have to concern yourself with infrastructure. You can focus on the code and release it immediately. Scalability is automatic and you don’t have to worry about any provisioning needs.
2. Low cost
Going serverless is a great way of cutting costs. That’s because you’re outsourcing the responsibilities of managing servers, databases, and some logic. Besides the actual cost, serverless takes less computing power and human resources. There’s no reason why you need to build a server from the ground-up on your own. Since serverless takes care of the infrastructure, you can focus on the server-side code that matters. There are situations where the cost isn’t that much cheaper, but it’ll depend on your use case. For example Coca-Cola North America has switched from EC2 to serverless and went from $13000 per year to $4.500 per year after switching to serverless.
3. Better scalability
If your app succeeds and grows, it’ll be easy to stage changes that accommodate the growth. If not, then no harm done. There’s no need to provide infrastructure without knowing whether it’s needed for sure. That’s a huge benefit.
Serverless technology is still fairly new and uncharted territory for the majority of technology companies. Unfortunately, most businesses still can't deliver software successfully, much less do so at the pace needed to stay competitive. For those who wish to keep up, let alone lead, software delivery & operation must be radically simplified. If you’re ready to take the plunge, contact us and you will only need to worry about your code.
