Why People Aren't Deploying to Vercel Anymore

Summary

The video discusses the Incredible Minds team's innovations, notably Next.js, and their deployment platform Vercel, which has been a mainstay for web developers. However, with the rise of AWS and its user-friendly deployment options like Amplify, developers are considering alternatives due to Vercel's cost at scale. The video highlights a case where a bot attack led to exorbitant Vercel costs, suggesting AWS as a more predictable scaling solution. It also addresses the misconception of vendor lock-in with Vercel, encouraging exploration of deployment options for Next.js apps.

Takeaways

• 😲 The Vercel team has significantly advanced web development with their inventions like Next.js and the deployment platform Vercel.
• 🌐 Vercel's deployment platform is renowned for its simplicity, allowing easy deployment of frameworks like Next.js with minimal effort.
• 🔄 Historically, Vercel was the primary choice for Next.js deployment due to exclusive features like ISR, but this is no longer the case.
• 🚀 There's a growing trend towards deploying Next.js apps on AWS services like Amplify, EC2, and Lambda, despite AWS's historically less user-friendly experience.
• 🆚 AWS Amplify's deployment process has improved, now offering a user experience comparable to Vercel, rated at 7 out of 10 in terms of ease.
• 👍 Web dev Cody has shared a video endorsing AWS deployments, signaling a shift in the community's preferences.
• 💸 The main reason for considering alternatives to Vercel is cost, especially at scale where Vercel's pricing can become prohibitive.
• 💰 A Vercel user faced a $3,000 bill after a bot attack, highlighting the high costs associated with bandwidth usage on Vercel.
• 📈 AWS Amplify offers more predictable scaling and costs, which can be more manageable for applications with high traffic or user bases.
• 🚧 Vercel does not encourage vendor lock-in, and they provide resources to deploy Next.js applications on various platforms, including AWS.
• 🔍 For developers expecting significant app growth, exploring alternatives to Vercel for deployment might be financially prudent in the long term.

Q & A

What has the Versel team contributed to the web development community?

The Versel team has contributed significantly to the web development community by inventing tools like Next.js and the Vercel deployment platform, which have greatly advanced the field.

What is the main feature of Vercel's deployment platform?

Vercel's deployment platform is known for its ease of use, allowing users to deploy web applications with minimal effort, often with just a few clicks.

Why have some developers historically chosen Vercel for deploying Next.js applications?

Developers have historically chosen Vercel for deploying Next.js applications because it was the easiest platform to use and ensured full support for all Next.js features, including ISR.

What is ISR and why was it significant for Next.js deployments?

ISR stands for Incremental Static Regeneration, a feature that was significant for Next.js deployments as it allowed for dynamic content to be pre-rendered at build time or on-demand, enhancing performance.

Why are some developers now considering alternatives to Vercel for deployment?

Developers are considering alternatives to Vercel due to scalability concerns, as Vercel can become expensive at scale, especially when dealing with high bandwidth usage or bot attacks.

How does AWS Amplify compare to Vercel in terms of deployment user experience?

AWS Amplify has improved its user experience and is now almost as straightforward as Vercel for deployment, although Vercel is still considered superior with a 10 out of 10 rating compared to Amplify's 7 out of 10.

What is the main reason Vercel can become expensive at scale?

The main reason Vercel can become expensive at scale is due to its bandwidth pricing, which increases significantly when the included bandwidth is exceeded.

How does AWS Amplify handle scaling compared to Vercel?

AWS Amplify scales more predictably and is generally more cost-effective for applications with high traffic or large user bases, making it a more attractive option for scaling applications.

What is 'vendor lock-in' and why is it not a valid argument against Vercel?

Vendor lock-in refers to the situation where a product or service is so closely tied to a particular vendor that it becomes difficult to switch to another. It is not a valid argument against Vercel because Next.js can run on any server that can run Node.js, and Vercel itself provides resources on how to deploy Next.js applications elsewhere.

What advice is given to developers considering Vercel for their deployment needs?

The advice given is that beginners might not need to worry about alternatives, but if an application is expected to scale significantly, it might be worth considering alternatives like AWS Amplify for potentially lower long-term costs.