Why I favor serverless over kubernetes

by peibolsang

December 31, 2022

Introduction

Wait, before you go and pitch your boss on ditching your current setup in favor of serverless without knowing all the details, let's talk about the other player in town first: Kubernetes. Kubernetes (or K8s, as the cool kids call it) has gained a lot of popularity in recent years as a container orchestration platform. It's definitely a powerful tool and has its place in the world of cloud computing. But is it the right fit for your needs?

In this blog post, we're going to compare serverless and Kubernetes and try to answer that question. We'll go over the benefits of both and help you understand when it makes sense to use one over the other. And, just to keep things interesting, we'll even throw in some jokes along the way (because seriously, cloud computing doesn't have to be so serious all the time).

So, let's dive in!

What is Serverless Computing?

First things first, let's define what we're talking about when we say "serverless computing." Serverless computing is a cloud computing execution model in which the cloud provider dynamically allocates resources to run an application's code in response to incoming requests or events. This means that the developer doesn't have to worry about provisioning or maintaining servers – they can just focus on writing code that runs in response to certain triggers.

One of the main benefits of serverless computing is that it allows for a pay-per-use model. You only pay for the resources consumed while running the code, which can result in significant cost savings compared to traditional cloud computing models (where you pay for resources even when they're not being used). Because in many ways, having a friend with a boat is much better than owning a boat!

Serverless computing also allows for faster deployment and scalability. Since the cloud provider is responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure, it's much easier to deploy and scale applications without having to worry about capacity planning or resource allocation. It's like having your own personal cloud genie – just snap your fingers and boom, your application is deployed and scaling like magic.

What is Kubernetes?

Now, let's talk about Kubernetes. Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that was originally developed by Google. It allows you to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

In a Kubernetes setup, you create "pods" that contain one or more containers. These pods can then be scaled up or down based on the needs of your application. Kubernetes also provides features for load balancing and rolling updates, so you can update your application without any downtime.

So, What's the Verdict? Serverless or Kubernetes?

Ok, now for the big question: which one is better? As with most things in life, the answer is "it depends." Both serverless and Kubernetes have their own unique benefits and drawbacks, and the right choice will depend on your specific needs and goals.

That being said, there are a few key differences between the two that might help you make your decision.

Simplified Architecture: With serverless computing, the developer doesn't have to worry about the underlying infrastructure or the management of containers. This simplifies the architecture of the application, allowing the developer to focus on writing code that runs in response to certain triggers. Kubernetes, on the other hand, requires a bit more setup and management. You have to worry about creating and scaling pods, as well as monitoring and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.
Pay-Per-Use Model: As we mentioned earlier, serverless computing offers a pay-per-use model, where you only pay for the resources consumed while running the code. This can be a big cost savings compared to traditional cloud computing models. Kubernetes, on the other hand, operates on a more traditional model, where you pay for the resources you use, regardless of whether your code is running or not.
Faster Deployment and Scalability: As we mentioned earlier, serverless computing allows for faster deployment and scalability, as the cloud provider is responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure. Kubernetes also allows for fast deployment and scaling, but you have to manage the underlying infrastructure yourself.
Integration with Cloud Services: Many cloud providers offer a wide range of services that can be easily integrated with serverless applications, such as databases, message queues, and analytics tools. This allows for the creation of highly scalable and performant applications with minimal effort. Kubernetes also allows for integration with various cloud services, but it requires a bit more setup and management.
Improved Security: With serverless computing, the developer doesn't have to worry about patching and updating the underlying infrastructure, as the cloud provider is responsible for this. This can improve the overall security of the application, as it reduces the attack surface and ensures that the infrastructure is always up to date. Kubernetes also offers various security features, but the developer is responsible for managing and maintaining them.

So, as you can see, both serverless and Kubernetes have their own benefits and drawbacks. It's up to you to decide which one is the right fit for your needs.

But Wait, There's More!

Of course, there's much more to consider when choosing between serverless and Kubernetes. Here are 17 advanced concepts every software engineer should know about serverless

Event-Driven Architecture: Serverless computing relies on an event-driven architecture, where the code is executed in response to certain triggers, such as incoming HTTP requests, database updates, or the arrival of new data in a message queue. It is important for software engineers to understand how to design and build applications using this architecture, and to be familiar with the various types of triggers that are available.
Function as a Service (FaaS): Serverless computing relies on the concept of "functions as a service," or FaaS, where individual pieces of code are executed in response to certain triggers. It is important for software engineers to understand how to write and deploy these functions, and to be familiar with the various frameworks and platforms that are available, such as AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions.
Cold Start Latency: One of the challenges of serverless computing is the potential for cold start latency, where it takes longer for a function to execute when it has not been recently used. It is important for software engineers to understand how to minimize this latency, and to be familiar with the various techniques that can be used, such as keeping functions warm or using a higher memory allocation.
Scaling: With serverless computing, the cloud provider is responsible for scaling the application based on the incoming traffic. It is important for software engineers to understand how this scaling works, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used to optimize it.
Monitoring and Debugging: With serverless computing, the cloud provider is responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure, which can make it more difficult to monitor and debug issues. It is important for software engineers to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used to monitor and debug serverless applications, such as cloud provider logs, APM tools, and debugging tools like AWS X-Ray.
State Management: With traditional cloud computing, it is easy to store state in a database or on the filesystem of a server. With serverless computing, this becomes more challenging, as the underlying infrastructure is ephemeral and the code is executed in response to certain triggers. It is important for software engineers to understand how to manage state in a serverless environment, and to be familiar with the various options that are available, such as using a database or using a cache like Redis.
Integration with Third-Party Services: One of the benefits of serverless computing is the ability to easily integrate with a wide range of third-party services, such as databases, message queues, and analytics tools. It is important for software engineers to understand how to integrate these services into a serverless application, and to be familiar with the various APIs and SDKs that are available.
Security: With serverless computing, the developer does not have to worry about patching and updating the underlying infrastructure, as the cloud provider is responsible for this. However, it is still important for software engineers to understand how to secure a serverless application, and to be familiar with the various best practices and tools that are available, such as using encryption and implementing proper access controls.
Cost Optimization: One of the benefits of serverless computing is the pay-per-use model, where the developer only pays for the resources consumed while running the code. It is important for software engineers to understand how to optimize costs in a serverless environment, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used, such as using reserved instances or optimizing the memory allocation of functions.
CI/CD: With serverless computing, it is important to have a robust CI/CD pipeline in place to ensure that code is deployed quickly and efficiently. It is important for software engineers to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used to automate the deployment of serverless applications, such as using a deployment platform like AWS CodePipeline or using a serverless framework like Serverless.
Serverless Frameworks: There are various frameworks available that can help software engineers build and deploy serverless applications more easily. These frameworks typically provide a set of tools and libraries that can be used to define and deploy functions, as well as handle tasks like scaling, monitoring, and deployment. Some examples of popular serverless frameworks include AWS SAM, Serverless, and OpenFaaS.
Event-Driven Data Processing: Serverless computing is well-suited for event-driven data processing, where data is processed in real-time as it is generated. It is important for software engineers to understand how to design and build applications that can handle this type of data processing, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used, such as using a message queue or a stream processing platform like Apache Kafka or AWS Kinesis.
Microservices: Serverless computing is often used to build microservices architectures, where an application is composed of multiple independent services that communicate with each other using APIs. It is important for software engineers to understand how to design and build microservices using serverless computing, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used to manage and deploy these services.
Integration with Server-Based Applications: While serverless computing is well-suited for building cloud-native applications, it can also be used to integrate with existing server-based applications. It is important for software engineers to understand how to integrate serverless functions with these types of applications, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used, such as using a reverse proxy or an API gateway.
Hybrid Architectures: It is possible to build hybrid architectures that combine serverless computing with traditional cloud computing or on-premises infrastructure. It is important for software engineers to understand how to design and build these types of architectures, and to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that can be used to manage and deploy them.
Serverless Patterns: There are various patterns and best practices that have been developed for building serverless applications. It is important for software engineers to be familiar with these patterns, and to understand how to apply them to different types of projects. Some examples of common serverless patterns include the Fan-Out pattern, the Command Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS) pattern, and the Event Sourcing pattern.
Serverless Limitations: While serverless computing has many benefits, it is not a panacea and there are certain limitations that software engineers should be aware of. It is important to understand when it is appropriate to use serverless computing, and to be familiar with the various trade-offs and limitations that come with it, such as cold start latency and the potential for vendor lock-in.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – a comparison of serverless and Kubernetes. As we mentioned earlier, the right choice will depend on your specific needs and goals. Both serverless and Kubernetes have their own unique benefits and drawbacks, and it's up to you to decide which one is the best fit for your project.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand the differences between serverless and Kubernetes, and has given you a better idea of which one is right for you. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to cloud computing, and it's important to consider the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.

But hey, don't stress too much about it. After all, we're just talking about cloud computing – it's not like anyone's life is on the line here. Just do your due diligence and choose the option that makes the most sense for your project. Happy cloud computing!

Pablo Bermejo.