6 Most Popular Serverless Frameworks with Pros and Cons

by sagacity

Serverless frameworks allow developers to build applications that are auto-scalable. These frameworks provide various features such as monitoring, testing, and security which help in enhancing the overall app operation. Serverless frameworks are the future of application development running on an ecosystem of codes, and databases that run in the cloud. Application development services no longer need to worry about managing servers but can concentrate on features and functions. Once deployed, serverless frameworks scale up as and when needed.

Here are the top 6 most popular Serverless frameworks with their respective pros and cons:

 

AWS Lambda

A part of the AWS serverless compute service, the AWS Lambda platform corresponds to triggers that determine the computing power that an application needs at any given moment. It’s among the most popular go-to options for applications built on Node.js, Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and Go. In fact, it’s considered the ultimate software-as-a-service web platform for Node.js development.

 

Pros

  • Easy code deployment:Lambda offers several server options for code deployment and authorization. There are AWS custom editors, Eclipse IDE, or Visual Studio IDE for this purpose.  AWS Command Line Interface allows multiple service management with a single script command line for development automation.
  • Pay as you use: AWS Lambda’s flexible pricing is extremely pocket friendly as it is based on the app performance. App developers do not have to shell out any fixed amount for any period or be limited by particular abilities.
  • No infrastructure management: AWS offers the most versatile development environments with its tools for AI, IoT, Cloud, database, and blockchain development. It makes outsourcing even the most complex application infrastructure easy.
  • Application Resilience: With AWS Lambda, since the application is not hosted on a specific server, there is no dependence on a single machine to perform all the tasks– even when one machine goes down, AWS swaps it out automatically.
  • Connection to API gateway: AWS Lambda is integrated with Amazon API Gateway.

 

Cons

  • The lack of a controlled environment: AWS Lambda doesn’t offer customization options or setting possibilities. Most functionalities are executed automatically.
  • Computational limitations: The default deployment package is limited to a zipped size of 50 MB or 250 MB unzipped. Its ephemeral disc space can go up to 512 MB only.
  • Complicated call patterns: Ending up with a monolith function is a common problem with Lambda as developers often forget about maintaining the readability of their code. They mostly get caught up in what the platform can do instead of focusing on their coding capabilities.

 

Claudia.js

Claudia.js is a lightweight tool that takes over the job of deploying, managing, and updating API and serverless backend. It enables Node.js deployment of AWS Lambda and API Gateway deployments apps super-simple. It automates the process eliminating all time-consuming and error-prone deployment and setup chores. It manages and deploys API gateway services on AWS and the Lambda functions to connect them and set them up. The best part of this platform is that it allows you to code outside the AWS console. You can start a new Claudia project on an outside infrastructure, and just transfer its management to the platform.

 

Pros

  • Flexibility: Claudia.js provides the flexibility of AWS Lambda and the API gateway when set up precisely.
  • Simple setup: You can deploy and update your applications with a simple command.
  • Service-friendly: Claudia lets JavaScript developers focus on finding solutions for business problems instead of spending deploying the application.

 

Cons

  • Specific solution-based: The framework is meant to deploy and support Node.js solutions only.
  • Deployment limitation: Applications that work easily on the framework may not work elsewhere making it difficult for program owners.

 

Zappa

Zappa is a serverless framework for creating Python-based applications. It is extremely popular for web-based applications and APIs. It’s the best platform to port serverless capabilities like AWS Lambda, and AWS API gateway for solutions in Python with a web server gateway interface.

 

Pros

  • Superb abstraction: Zappa provides a great abstraction for re-platforming solutions that rely on Flask applications. It builds through the abstraction letting you use AWS and API gateway without changing too many codes.
  • Easy deployment: Single command deployment, updating, and application control make the process a breeze.
  • Enhanced security: Zappa provides high-grade security that enables identity and access management strategy for authentication. This is a default feature of the platform.
  • Well-coordinated: Zappa uses DynamoDB as its backend to take the responses from asynchronous tasks.

 

Cons

  • Expertise: Zappa can be a little complicated with a high learning curve for those who are not well-versed with the serverless technology.

 

Google Cloud Functions + Firebase

Google Cloud Functions serverless platform is meant for event-driven development. It connects the code to Google Cloud Platform. It sets up triggers that activate responses to users’ actions and changes in the application.

 

Pros

  • Cost:Google Cloud Functions is much cheaper than its counterparts such as Microsoft Azure and AWS. For startups, there are discounts for long-term service and price-tiers. Organizations can also work with their free services like Firebase, and Filestore.
  • Instant updates: Google Firebase provides immediate notifications whenever their data gets updated giving developers an advantage.

 

Cons

While Google Cloud has been experiencing a few power outages, it cannot be considered as a strong con because Google is sure to take care of this issue shortly.

 

Microsoft Azure

Azure is a complex serverless platform of several serverless tools for software development, testing, deployment, and administration. It uses Cloud and edge computing instead of local resources. Microsoft Azure and its affinity towards Development Operations with its tools focusing on continuous testing, deployment, and integration make it immensely popular. Since it unites hundreds of development and deployment tools, its pricing depends on the computing power the application uses.

 

Pros

  • Scalability options: The immense collection of tools allows organizations to scale at need and adjust costs as per project investments.
  • Cybersecurity: Azure offers specialized tools for network safety, data safeguard, centralized visibility, risk prevention, and identity management. It is among the most secure serverless platforms.

 

Cons

  • Need for expertise: Azure allows a lot of customization options compared to other platforms. But, this comes with a price, and, that is, developers and product owners are called to have an in-depth understanding of the specifics of server management.

 

IBM Bluemix (OpenWhisk)

IBM serverless platform works with triggers, rules, and events. Each feature of the platform is executed following the rules of the serverless templates and executed with components. Each of its components come with defined tasks such as the Controller being responsible for API call, Activators to start feature execution, and so on. IBM OpenWhisk features dozens of flexible components for a myriad of web projects.

 

Pros

  • Flexible: It allows changing of one component at a time. Developers can closely monitor its performance without affecting the entire platform’s settings.
  • Command-line control: OpenWhisk offers an intuitive GUI to manage the application performance. At the same time, users can also manage it through the command line.
  • Web IDE: It is a personalized platform where developers can write codes, track bugs, report issues, and track other activities.

 

Cons

  • Complicated interface: It involves a lot of manual coding. Managing apps through command lines requires long-term software development expertise.
  • Technical limitations: OpenWhisk is a relatively new platform, and its functionalities are still unstable.
  • Lack of support: Despite being a paid platform, the lack of prompt support from IBM makes developers rely on online forums and community support to get their queries answered.

 

Wrapping up

With serverless frameworks offering so much in terms of faster development, quicker deployment, easier management, and high security, application development is moving towards them. We’ve laid out to you the details with the pros and cons of the topmost popular serverless frameworks. We hope that it helps you make a more informed decision.

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