Serverless computing

Summary

Serverless computing is a modern approach to application development where businesses provide code, and the Cloud provider manages the infrastructure. It offers several benefits, including reduced costs, automatic scalability, faster deployment, and improved resilience. Platforms like Google Cloud's Cloud Run and App Engine provide developers with the tools to build and scale applications without worrying about infrastructure. The example of Mashme.io highlights how educational tech startups can use serverless computing to overcome challenges like low latency and global scalability, allowing them to focus on providing seamless video collaboration experiences to users worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 Serverless computing allows businesses to only pay for computing resources when they are actively used, like when running a query or application.
• 😀 Serverless doesn't mean no servers; it refers to automatically provisioned resources that handle the underlying infrastructure.
• 😀 Function as a Service (FaaS) is a type of serverless computing where the code runs in response to specific events like file uploads or database changes.
• 😀 Cloud Run is a serverless product for running containerized applications without worrying about infrastructure management.
• 😀 Cloud Run Functions is designed for hosting simple, single-purpose functions that respond to events in the cloud infrastructure.
• 😀 App Engine is a service for building and deploying web applications in a serverless environment.
• 😀 Serverless computing offers benefits like reduced operational costs by offloading infrastructure management to the cloud provider.
• 😀 Serverless computing provides automatic scalability based on application demand, which means you only pay for what you use.
• 😀 Serverless computing accelerates time to market by eliminating the need for infrastructure setup and configuration.
• 😀 Development costs are reduced because developers can focus on writing application logic, not managing infrastructure.
• 😀 Serverless computing enhances resilience by automatically managing failover and disaster recovery for infrastructure.

Q & A

What does serverless computing mean?

Serverless computing refers to a model where compute resources are automatically provisioned by the cloud provider as needed. It doesn't mean there are no servers, but rather the infrastructure is managed automatically, and businesses only pay for resources when they are in use.

How does serverless computing benefit businesses in terms of costs?

With serverless computing, businesses only pay for the computing resources they use, which reduces operational costs. There's no need to pay for idle resources, and the cloud provider handles infrastructure maintenance, saving on human resources and infrastructure investments.

What is an example of a function in serverless computing?

An example would be adding a feature to an expense management software that allows users to upload images of their receipts. In this case, the image upload feature is a function, and the cloud provider manages the infrastructure to support this feature.

What is 'Function as a Service' (FaaS)?

Function as a Service (FaaS) is a serverless computing model where businesses write specific functions, such as responding to events like file uploads or database changes, and the cloud provider handles everything else, including infrastructure and scaling.

How does Google Cloud support serverless computing?

Google Cloud offers various serverless computing solutions such as Cloud Run (for containerized applications), Cloud Run Functions (for event-driven functions), and App Engine (for deploying web applications). These services allow businesses to scale applications easily without worrying about infrastructure management.

What are the key benefits of serverless computing?

The key benefits include reduced operational costs, automatic scalability, faster time to market, reduced development costs, improved resilience, and a pay-per-use pricing model that optimizes expenses.

How does serverless computing improve time to market for applications?

Serverless computing eliminates the need for infrastructure setup and configuration, allowing developers to focus on writing code and deploying new features quickly, reducing the overall time to market.

What is the significance of scalability in serverless computing?

Serverless computing automatically adjusts the scale of computing resources based on application demand. The cloud provider manages this scaling process, ensuring that resources are allocated as needed, without the application owner needing to manually intervene.

How did Mashme.io utilize Google Cloud to solve its technical challenges?

Mashme.io, an educational tech company, used Google Cloud to handle global video conferencing with low latency. By leveraging Google’s global network and tools like App Engine and Google Kubernetes Engine, Mashme.io ensured seamless, real-time video connections for users worldwide without the need for setting up their own data centers.

Why is low latency critical for Mashme.io’s video conferencing platform?

Low latency is crucial because Mashme.io provides real-time video collaboration, and any delay in video streaming would disrupt the educational experience. By using Google’s global network, they could minimize latency and deliver a smooth, face-to-face experience for users across the world.