How to Build Apps with Serverless Architecture

Traditionally, when you wanted to build a web application or API, you typically had to spend a lot of time and effort managing servers and making sure your application scales to handle high volumes of requests. Serverless is a cloud computing model that allows you to run applications without having to worry about managing and scaling servers.

All you need to do is upload your code to a cloud provider’s service, and they’ll automatically provision an ephemeral environment. Unlike traditional architectures, you can scale to handle thousands of requests in an instant, and you only pay for the duration of your code execution.

In this blog, we will reveal how to build applications with serverless architecture. Let’s start!!

What is Serverless Architecture?

Developers don’t have to worry about managing servers and compute resources in a serverless approach because cloud providers take care of that for them. Providers don’t need to worry about deploying virtual machines or real servers because they do it automatically in the cloud.

Cloud providers provision, maintain, and scale the serverless architecture. Serverless architecture also allows you to run applications just when they are really needed, rather than paying for “always-on” server components that sit idle all the time. The appropriate resources are dynamically allocated when an application code is triggered by some external circumstance or event. Once the code has been executed, you will no longer be charged.

So, in a nutshell, serverless architecture is a technique for building a cloud-based application without having to worry about managing the infrastructure. Security fixes, load balancing, scaling, and capacity management are removed.

Still, the term serverless does not imply the absence of any kind of server. It’s a bit hard to define. Application developers don’t have to worry about servers because application service providers take care of them.

The features in an app like this are often designed to perform a particular task. In this case, the cloud service provider receives a module or function from a developer and runs it. A developer uploads a new version and starts modifying to keep it up to date. A serverless architecture and pre-built backend services are also integrated.

Types of Serverless Architecture

Following are the two types of serverless architecture:

1. Backend as a Service (BaaS)

The acquisition of a backend is necessary for the serverless design to work. A third-party provider handles the internals of the app, such as data storage, security, devices, and the backend. The platform automatically generates the entire backend, so development and testing time is greatly reduced.

Most service providers operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, which means that customers only pay for the additional space and processing capacity that they actually use. The platform will automatically adjust your plan if you need more server capacity.

2. Fast as a Service (FaaS)

FaaS is the front end of a serverless application. The functionality is divided up into a small number of small functions, each of which can be executed on its own.

When a user platforms a trigger action, the function is put into effect. The application responds to a certain event. This causes the function to begin working. The cloud service providers limit the runtime and size of a function. Functions end when the event that initiated them is canceled. Because of the application’s careful management of memory use, processing costs are kept to a minimum.

What is a Serverless Application?

Serverless applications are those that are made using a serverless architecture or FaaS (Function as a Service). At the same time, serverless code can be combined with code written in the usual server style, such as microservices. For example, you can write several parts of a web application using a traditional computing model, while others can be written using the serverless approach. Or you can create an application that does not use any provisioned servers and does not have any servers.

Also, serverless applications can maintain asynchronous and synchronous operations. The selected serverless platform you use will manage the input and output options, along with the language in which you can write your application.

When Should you use Serverless Architecture? (Scenarios)

You can build any serverless application, but it doesn’t always make sense to do so. Regardless of the technical feasibility of creating a specific solution using the serverless approach, there are typical situations where serverless technology is more beneficial.

• HTTP-triggered requests: You can create serverless microservices, for example, APIs to subscribe to a newsletter.
• Event-driven architecture: Serverless is great for processing incoming files like images or JSON, for example automatically changing the name and size of files placed in the bucket.
• FaaS is designed for small, stand-alone tasks that don’t require a lot of computing, like sending an email.
• Serverless can be useful in a situation of unpredictable usage patterns, for example, if you can’t estimate how many resources you need and you don’t want to run out of resources.

Benefits of Serverless Architecture for Application Development

Companies that previously preferred the monolithic approach now switch to serverless application development and decentralize their functionality. The reason for such popularity is its efficiency. For relatively low subscription costs, developers get:

• Scalability. Flexibility is a defining characteristic of serverless. To make a change to the app, developers only need to edit a single feature. This isolation makes development and updates easier to manage.
• Simple Structure. Serverless has templates for frontend feature development — you just need to paste the code into predefined frameworks. On top of that, you don’t have to configure the app’s business logic and write the backend.
• Lower Costs — With serverless platforms, the business only pays for the compute and storage resources used and not for the specified period of time. This translates into cost reduction for the company.

How Can a Model of Serverless App Work?

In a serverless application, multiple processes work together in unison to accomplish a single task; additionally, databases, APIs, and event source mappings are examples of what is included in this type of project.

1. The Command Line:

Using a SAM, all tools have their own command line. In the CLI, you can edit template files, debug code, build, call functions, and order packages.

2. Template Specifications:

The syntax of your program, as well as its permissions, settings, and events, are described in the specification. SAM, from Google Cloud and AWS, is an example of an out-of-the-box template that can be customized for your application’s functionality and purpose.

Building Serverless Applications: Best Practices

1. Design and scaling

• Serverless applications are often part of distributed systems and should be stateless.
• Calculate the correct number of active instances. Remember not only to ensure the availability of your service, but also the costs. If you want to avoid unpredictable expenses, limit the number of maximum instances.
• Try to keep FaaS applications as simple as possible.
• Calculate the amount of memory required for the execution of the function and set the memory limit. Remember, you pay for what you use.

2. Debug and Testing

Considering that testing distributed and serverless systems is much more difficult than centralized ones, you should:

• Prepare a reliable and detailed record.
• Don’t Fail Quietly: Make sure all unexpected behavior is noticed.
• Monitor the status of runs to identify failures and set alerts if they happen.

3. Configuration and Security

• Always separate the configuration from the application code and save it in a different file, for example YAML or JSON.
• Keep a code base tracked in the version control system for all environments. This helps you maintain more consistent code and makes the deployment process easier.
• Remember timeouts in FaaS: Functions should be used for short tasks with predictable execution times.

Examples of Serverless Applications

Below is the list of serverless application development examples from companies that have chosen FaaS for their development.

• Coca-Cola

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola has enthusiastically embraced serverless technology after its implementation in vending machines generated significant savings. Every time a drink is purchased, the payment gateway makes a call to the AWS API Gateway and triggers an AWS Lambda function to complete the transaction. Since vending machines must communicate with headquarters for inventory and marketing purposes, the ability to pay per order instead of operating at full capacity had a substantial impact on cost reduction.

• Slack

Serverless is ideal for stand-alone task-based applications like chatbots and can save operational costs as billing is based on the actual number of requests. Slack, a popular cloud-based business communication platform, uses a serverless application called marbot to push notifications from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to DevOps teams via Slack.

Concluding Thoughts

Serverless technology has developed incredibly over the past few years and will continue to evolve. Although serverless technology has its drawbacks, there are fundamental techniques and design patterns that you can use to build robust serverless applications or integrate serverless elements into your existing architectures. Serverless is a method to reduce costs, improve quality, shorten time to market, and highlight progress. You get access to dozens of development tools including on-demand scaling, automation plugins, and API integration. If you don’t have the right equipment to go serverless connect with QuyTech.

In recent years, QuyTech has helped many companies get started with serverless computing and reduce software development costs. Are you considering serverless architecture as a new approach to implement or do you need advice on your existing serverless architecture? Contact us, our professionals will assist you with their best knowledge.