Many benefits include faster release times, greater flexibility, better scalability, and cost-effective software development. To fully reap the benefits, it is crucial to understand serverless computing and how it works. These and many other aspects of cloud computing will be discussed in this article.
What is Serverless?
Developers rely on serverless cloud computing to create specialized functions. The model is frequently provided as a "functions" (FaaS) service. These are how serverless computing functions can be created and run.
- Developers write a function. The function serves a particular purpose within the app code.
- Developers then define the event. This occurrence will encourage the cloud service provider to carry out a task. A highly frequent form of event is an HTTP request.
- The event is triggered. The user can trigger the event if it is an HTTP request by clicking.
- The function is executed. The cloud provider verifies that the function instance is still running. If it is not, the cloud provider will create a new instance of the function.
- The user receives the result. The result of the user's function in the app is sent to them.
What's Serverless Architecture?
Serverless computing is a model in which backend services are offered as needed. Serverless computing allows users to create and deploy code without worrying about the infrastructure. When your business uses backend service provided by a serverless vendor to support its operations, the cost is based on computation. For bandwidth or server counts, there is no cost.
Mobile app Developers only have to pay for the services they use because the model is a cloud service. Let's first be real. It is misleading to use the term "serverless" as a synonym. Although servers will still be used to deliver backend services, the providers manage them, so developers don't have to worry about them. It is almost like being serverless for them'.
The Elements In Serverless Architecture
It should be clear that serverless computing does not exist in a vacuum. Let's examine the elements that are crucial for creating cloud-based applications.
- FaaS solution is - one of the most crucial architecture components for serverless computing. These basic features enable developers to build, operate, deploy, and maintain apps without worrying about server infrastructure.
- Security token services- Serveless users log into the system and utilize its many services using the providers' API. Each user should be able to have a security token before API access is allowed, thanks to this serverless design.
- Database- Even if an application is created and maintained utilizing a serverless computing architecture, the data must remain in a database. A robust database is a key part of any architecture.
Serverless Architecture Business Benefits
Partnering with a cloud computing service provider to integrate serverless architecture offers many benefits. We'll dive into these benefits in the next section.
Lower Costs
Human resources and infrastructure are the two most important cost elements for any software project. Serverless architecture can bring down infrastructure costs by using a pay-as-you-use model. Imagine that your startup website attracts less than 1,000 people. You can cut as much as 90% off the maintenance and backend resources costs by switching to pay-as-your-go, model.
The businesses can now concentrate on building solutions and not maintaining infrastructures. This increases their ROI. What is the result? All major operations are now at a lower cost.
You can see some examples here.
- Heavywater spent around $30 instead of $4,000 approx to maintain their backend once they switched to a serverless architecture.
- Nordstrom utilized serverless's cost-reduction and high scalability features to create high-traffic web apps.
- After enduring huge backend costs, Postlight switched to serverless. This reduced infrastructure costs by over or around $10,000 to just $370 monthly approx.
Scalability
Serverless apps can scale up and down according to user usage. Containers allow for multiple instances of a function to run at once. This allows the serverless application to manage large requests and makes it easy to process any request from one user or thousands. Serverless architecture is preferred by businesses that prioritize traffic.
Quick Deployments and Updates
Working with a serverless infrastructure eliminates the need to upload code to the servers to release backend settings. The code may be uploaded immediately, and the version released. This means a business doesn't have to worry about whether the update has been rolled out to all devices. Every customer can access the new technology or business feature as soon as you add it.
Reduced Latency
Serverless applications don't have any origin servers. This enables the code to be executed from any location. Depending on the provider, the app functions may be executed from servers closer to end users. This reduces latency because your users' requests don't have to travel to the source server. It also makes data transmission and processing time much lower.
Simple Operations Management
Legacy systems have been an important part of a company's infrastructure for software expansions. The dependence on legacy systems, notoriously known for holding back innovation, has been detrimental to business disruption efforts. Serverless architecture allows businesses to focus on innovation because providers care for all infrastructure requirements.
Improved Pivoting
Serverless architecture is much easier to implement and maintain than traditional methods. It is not unusual for businesses to discover that they are targeting the wrong people or that their product has entered a growth rut. Serverless architecture is the answer. This allows businesses to innovate quickly and see the benefits of change faster. Startup owners can pivot more easily when resources and time don't limit them. This, in turn, has its own set of benefits.
Use Cases From The Serverless Architecture
Understanding how different sectors and companies use serverless technology is crucial to appreciate its potential fully. Let's have a look at some.
Netflix
AWS Lambda has enabled Netflix media encoding to be automated using event-based triggers. Using the serverless architecture makes publishing content simple. The media behemoth receives hundreds of files from publishers each day. Each file must be sorted and encrypted before it can be given to users. When the files are submitted, Amazon Firebase creates an event and pushes it to S3. This allows the Lambda function to be called.
This splits the video into 5-minute segments, encoded in the 60 streams that Netflix requires. The final part of the video is then compiled and deployed using various rules and events. The architecture can also alert and stop unauthorized access. With the help of Lambda continuous file verification, Netflix can also identify the cause of an issue.
Nordstrom
Washington's popular department store is known for being at the forefront of retail innovation. They have since abandoned data-based applications and developed Hello Retail, an open-source serverless architecture shop. Nordstrom may demonstrate how they use Amazon Lambda and Kinesis via the app. The program is distributed ledger-based, event-driven, immutable, and serverless.
Coca Cola
The soft drink giant Coca-Cola first tried serverless technology with its vending machine. They have now started to base their entire business model on this model. This is how the serverless vending machine works. To fulfill marketing and inventory requirements, the vending machines should be able to connect with the corporate office. This makes it possible to understand the needs of the clients better.
Zalora
Zalora's fashion shops rely heavily on serverless technology to serve more customers than 20 million. AWS helps the chain ensure customers have a pleasant user experience when they shop on their website. The brand has merged the capabilities of Lambda with AWS to ensure they have no issues scaling their request count.
Mobile Applications Can Use A Serverless Architecture
Mobile apps can also be built using serverless architecture. Mobile app development companies can create hybrid mobile apps using a serverless backend that combines the best serverless computing with native apps for almost all smartphones and tablets. As the user base grows, serverless mobile apps can scale rapidly and easily.
What Is A Hybrid App For Mobile?
Native and hybrid mobile apps look almost identical, although they have different engines underneath. Native apps are designed for specific devices and operating systems. The logic is run on the device. A hybrid app is a web app that uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It operates within a "native wrapping," enabling it to work as a native mobile application on various devices. In contrast to standard web applications, hybrid apps have access to platform-specific elements like hardware or push notification capabilities that are unique to a given device.
You may download hybrid apps from Google Play or the App Store and set them up like regular apps. Yet, there are frequently fewer steps to download and install because much of the logic is hosted on the cloud. Performance worries have diminished as hybrid apps have become popular due to technological advancements. Hybrid architectures are occasionally preferred by developers when creating native mobile apps.
This is because the application doesn't need to be rebuilt in different platform-specific languages for each device. It is not surprising that building an app that runs on multiple devices can save time both in product development and support.
What Is The Best Way To Make A Mobile App With A Serverless Backend?
Mobile hybrid apps enable cloud-based processing rather than on-device processing. Like a web application, all cloud-hosted computing functions for the app can be serverless. The native wrapper* is the only distinction between hybrid mobile and serverless web applications.
The application is divided into smaller sections known as functions. They do not exist on particular servers. Each function reacts to trigger events; as additional instances are required, the vendor's infrastructure creates them. Suppose a user taps an app's 'Purchase" button with a serverless backend. In that case, it can trigger a backend function (or series of functions) that starts up, records the transaction, and initiates delivery of the item purchased.
Read More: Mobile App Development: What to Expect in 2023 and Beyond?
How Is Serverless Backend Better For A Mobile Application?
Phonegap development services work for mobile applications due to several reasons. Computation matters a lot regarding cloud services in the hybrid mobile application. The deployment, testing, and running of applications work up with infrastructure code tremendously to get an accurate flow to the code. Some serverless architecture cloud companies work in this mode, such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon AWS, which have become prominent names in the custom mobile application development industry.
Serverless App Development: The Positives
Serverless architecture is a good choice for app development because of many reasons.
Some of these are listed below:
- Decreasing your costs.
- Easier for service.
- Scalability.
- Services of third parties.
Decreasing your costs:
Serverless architecture is the best choice for app development because it lowers costs. Hardware servers require you to pay for many things that may not be necessary. You won't be responsible for the grounds, regular electricity, and staff maintenance. This saves you money on maintenance, the grounds, and staff maintenance. You can also use it for app quality.
Easier for service:
This is a reasonable thought. If the server manager or owner doesn't have to manage it, making the service available will be easier. It will be easier because it won't require supervision. Second, it will be time-saving. Instead, this time can be used for productive work like product development. The third benefit is that the technology works reliably, and you don't have to be concerned about it.
Scalability:
Another interesting advantage of serverless architecture for custom mobile app development is its scalability. What is scalability, you ask? A system can handle more work by adding resources. It refers to the ability of an app or product's functionality to continue working without interruption when it is modified in size or volume to meet users' needs. Serverless architecture is the additional resource that the system uses to manage any work that has been accumulated.
Services of Third Parties:
You can employ third-party services, another significant and beneficial aspect of the serverless design. Your app can access any third-party service that it needs, regardless of what you have. The backend architecture for the app can be built with less effort. The third party may also be able to provide better services than what we have. Serverless architecture is eventually better because it allows for third-party services.
Negatives: Serverless App Development
While we now know the many benefits of serverless architectures, it is important to remember that there are also drawbacks and limitations.
These are:
- Time limitations.
- Vendor lock-in.
- Multi-tenancy.
- Debugging is impossible.
Time Limitations:
Serverless architecture is based on FaaS rules. As mentioned above, a function can only be run for a certain time. The time limit is exactly 300 seconds. The function will stop when it reaches this time limit. FaaS may not be the best choice for complex functions that take longer to complete. This problem can be solved easily. If the task is large enough, we can divide the task into smaller tasks. These time constraints can create great difficulty if they are not followed carefully.
Vendor Lock-In:
We discussed how serverless architecture allows us to use third-party services. It can also lead to vendor lock-in if it goes wrong. You can expect services to be provided differently if you choose to move to another service provider. This means the productivity gains you expect from serverless will not be realized as you have to reconfigure your infrastructure to accommodate the new service.
Multi-Tenancy:
Serverless architecture is facing increasing problems with multi-tenancy. Many tenants share the same data. This can lead to confusion. This could lead to data being lost, exchanged, or distributed. This can lead to security and reliability problems. For example, a customer might suddenly produce a tremendously high load that could impact other customers' applications.
Debugging is Impossible:
Serverless doesn't allow for debugging. Serverless Architecture stores data but does not have a debugging facility to debug the uploaded code. You can find the function by running it or performing it. Wait for the result. You cannot change the outcome if it crashes in the function. There is an alternative solution. Extensive logging, which logs every step, reduces the chance of errors that can lead to debugging problems.
Examples Of Serverless Architecture
Serverless cloud computing applications are used in many industries. These are the main types of serverless cloud computing applications. The architecture of web appsWhen designing web architecture, the cloud provider will assist you in developing an API to connect to the cloud services. Beyond this, simply logging in and running the scripts will be enough. A single-page app can be created more easily with a serverless architecture. These pages are ideal for serverless because they are lightweight and have few dependencies.
IoT backend
It can be challenging to manage IoT device servers when many apps are attached. The creation of rules that cause database searches for particular devices, device registration logic, and activation code when a device requests access can be the main focus of developers. There is no downtime during any of this.
SaaS Software
SaaS software development is about managing fluctuating customer and task loads. Solution architects have often found it difficult to account for changing market demands. It is possible with serverless architecture because it allows for automatic scaling up features, which supports constant innovation and rapid deployment.
Mobile App Backend
Serverless architectures can offer multiple environments simultaneously, which is a crucial feature. Serverless architecture allows developers to create native apps' backends. This makes it easy for users to perform tasks by calling serverless functions that the cloud vendor renders.
These are just four examples of serverless architecture use cases. However, deciding if serverless architecture is right for you can be difficult. Serverless architecture comes with limitations such as complexity in architecture, lack of control, limited tools to manage and debug, and limited tools. We will help you decide with some basic guidelines.
When To Use Serverless Computing And When?
These tips help you decide whether going serverless is the right choice for your company.
When to Use:
- Instead of maintaining infrastructure, you want to create effective solutions.
- You want to lower development costs but not compromise quality.
- Automated scaling up is desirable without having to get involved in complex tasks.
- Apps are subject to unpredictable server loads.
- Apps are intended to be constantly changing.
When to Not Use:
- Your WebSockets functionality comes with a limited lifetime if your real-time application uses WebSockets.
- You need to get a response quickly from the server. Serverless architectures can cause functions to become cold if left unattended, so it is necessary to invoke them manually.
These problems can be resolved by using a hybrid strategy that first integrates BaaS/FaaS and then uses a FaaS function in a pilot; these problems can be resolved. The model should be extended to broader use cases before the complete software development process is redesigned.
Cisin Can Help You Make Your Business Model More Efficient
Cisin assists companies in many industries and regions in developing digital goods and expanding their product lines. Serverless applications have been a major part of this process in recent years. This is how the serverless model can be used in a business.
- We start by listening to your business goals and gathering requirements.
- Next, we identify the technology stack best suited to the serverless model.
- We then provide you with a development plan that includes the finalized estimates and deliverables.
- The next stage is the system architecture design stage, where documentation is written.
Conclusion
Both developers and business owners can benefit from serverless architecture. This design benefits business owners by enhancing the scalability and stability of their services and reducing time to market. It also relieves mobile app developers of the responsibility of managing infrastructure. Nevertheless, implementing the model in a conventional IT system can be difficult and require a step-by-step strategy. Cisin's cloud expertise can help. Without interfering with your business operations, we can assist you in adopting serverless.
