Serverless Architecture

A Love Story!

Linda Nichols

@lynnaloo

Norfolk.js

norfolkjs.org

@lynnaloo

Today you're going to fall in love with Serverless Architecture...

But first, you have to break-up with your servers.

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

This story has all of the pieces of a typical romance:

  • Break-ups and decoupling

  • Commitment (and no-commitment)

  • Highly cohesive relationships

  • High availability and dedication

  • Support and growth 

But first, what is "serverless"* architecture?

@lynnaloo

* "Serverless" is just a catchy, made-up, marketing term.

(Kind of like, "Cloud")

@lynnaloo

Serverless Architecture?

It isn't about a platform or compute product...

@lynnaloo

Serverless Architecture?

It's about the events!

@lynnaloo

Serverless Architecture?

Serverless Architecture is an event-driven system that uses remote functions (likely via a a FaaS product) without concern for the operations of the containers that execute the code. 

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS)

Stateless functions running in execution environments managed by a service provider (not you!).

Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS)

  • Building block of Serverless Architecture

  • Stateless and ephemeral

  • Functions run in managed execution environments

  • Removes the complexity of building your own infrastructure

  • You only pay for functions when you use them

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

Your code could be completely free...

@lynnaloo

Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS)

@lynnaloo

AWS Lambda

Most popular kid in school

@lynnaloo

Azure Functions

The Developer's Favorite

@lynnaloo

IBM Cloud Functions

They do really mean open

@lynnaloo

Google Cloud Functions

Finally in GA!

Serverless Architecture

  • Storage

  • IoT

  • Database Actions

  • API Gateway

  • Queues and Topics

  • Logging

@lynnaloo

Functions can be triggered by other cloud services

Functions are Microservices

  • Responsible for one specific task

  • Lightweight and fast

  • Reusable

  • Deployed independently

  • Not dependent on other services

  • Work together to power applications

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

Did someone say decoupling?

@lynnaloo

Serverless Architecture

@lynnaloo

Your perfect match!

Serverless Architecture

  • Dedicated

  • Flexible

  • Supportive

  • Resilient

  • Growth potential

  • Speaks many languages!

What if I'm scared of commitment?

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

The cloud platforms do have analogous services...

Relationship Counseling

@lynnaloo

Embrace frameworks!

Serverless Framework:

  • Open-source

  • Abstracts provider-specific tasks

  • Multi-provider plugin system

  • Scaffold and deploy using CLI

@lynnaloo

Get started.

# Install serverless cli
$ npm install serverless -g

# Create AWS Service
$ serverless create --template aws-nodejs --path cat-name-service

# Change into the service directory
$ cd cat-name-service

# Deploy to cloud provider
$ serverless deploy -v
cat-name-service/
  package.json
  serverless.yml
  handler.js 
dog-name-service/
  package.json
  serverless.yml
  handler.js
@lynnaloo

Configure Service and Events.

#serverless.yml

service: cat-name-service

provider:
  name: aws
  runtime: nodejs6.10

functions:
  catName:
    handler: handler.getCatName

    events:
      - http:
          path: cats/name
          method: get

@lynnaloo

Create Handler.

'use strict';

const catNames = require('cat-names');

function getCatName(event, context, callback) {
    callback(null, { payload: `Your cat name is ${catNames.random()}.` });
}

module.exports = getCatName;

(then package and/or deploy it!)

@lynnaloo
'use strict';

const catNames = require('cat-names');
const AmazonDb = require('amazon-db-module');

function getCatName(event, context, callback) {
    const amazonDb = new AmazonDb();
    const catName = catNames.random();
    amazonDb.update(catName);
    callback(null, { payload: `Your cat name is ${catName}.` });
}

module.exports = getCatName;
'use strict';

const catNames = require('cat-names');
const GoogleDb = require('google-db-module');

function getCatName(request, response) {
    const googleDb = new GoogleDb();
    const catName = catNames.random();
    googleDb.update(catName);
    return response.status(200).send(`Your cat name is ${catName}.`); 
}

module.exports = getCatName;
@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

But what about the events?

@lynnaloo
@lynnaloo

Cloud Events

a specification for describing event data in a common way

Audience Participation!

@lynnaloo
Mention @thesecatstweet in a tweet with the hashtag #valentinebot

Demo Time!

@lynnaloo

Thank You!

@lynnaloo

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