The concept of serverless computing was first introduced in 2008 by the technology giant Google, looking to launch cloud systems without worrying about their management.
Over here, “serverless” does not mean the absence of physical servers; it refers to a model where developers can run their code without the need to maintain any back-end infrastructure.
Therefore, it not only provides a Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) that helps developers write code smoothly but also hides billing and management from them, which are operated by the cloud provider. So, what are the different benefits and drawbacks of serverless computing?
Serverless cloud computing has a range of advantages but also presents some disadvantages.
Under a traditional cloud computing setup, developers have to maintain containers to run their applications. But, because of the abstraction of the server, they only need to upload their code and describe when and how to execute it.
Each execution is uploaded in the form of a function, and it only runs for the time duration that is required to process that event.
Benefits of Serverless Computing
There are three main benefits to switching to serverless computing.
Pay-Per-Use Model
Payments are calculated based on when the request is received and the time it takes to execute the function. No other payment is associated with maintaining servers even when not in use, like it is for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) models. Any variability in the workload can easily be managed, and it becomes cost-effective to use serverless computing.
Easier Scalability
Vendors who provide serverless functions are responsible for handling all incoming requests. Developers no longer need to take tension over how to scale up their code. In this manner, seamless execution of functions can be achieved.
Reduced Overhead Costs
Since developers do not need to manage, configure, or maintain any operating systems or servers, the overhead costs are significantly reduced. Any operational task is managed by the cloud provider, while developers can focus on writing code and experience increased productivity.
Challenges and Other Considerations
While there are some noticeable benefits, it is important to factor in all considerations.
Reduced Control
Most cloud providers have their own unique method of operation that specifies the types of interactions you can have with the system and its flexibility. Thus, the management of hardware and operation systems is in the hands of these third-party providers.
Vendor Lock-In
Since every cloud service provider has their own capabilities, changing vendors becomes difficult. The system of one vendor would be incompatible with that of another vendor, and smooth portability between platforms would not be a possibility. It might even require upgrading systems to match the specifications of the new vendor, which would be costly.
Slow Start Latency
A cold start is experienced when the first action is taken for a serverless function. This occurs because it takes time for the execution environment to be initialized. Thus, it can affect the performance of real-time requests for critical applications.
Conclusion
Cloud computing has provided many advantages to the world of business, and serverless computing simply takes it a step further. It enables developers to construct more efficiently, is easier to scale with payment according to use, and significantly reduces overhead costs. However, it still has its set of challenges, but these are regularly being addressed and are easily outweighed by the benefits.
