Are you attempting to determine the ideal method for deploying your apps in the cloud? The two most common solutions are Serverless vs Containers. But deciding which one to use might be difficult. Which one is superior? Are Serverless more economical? Which one is simpler to manage?
In this blog, we will talk about Serverless vs Containers and explain when to utilize each one. In addition to this, we will also talk about another popular option to consider – Microservices Architecture and how it fits into the picture. At the end of this post, you’ll know exactly how Containers vs Serverless stack up against one another and which one is better for your purposes. So, let’s dive into the world of Serverless vs Containers and find out which one reigns supreme!
Serverless is a cloud computing model in which the cloud provider controls the infrastructure needed to run applications. With Serverless, developers don’t have to worry about maintaining infrastructure, operating systems, or servers while they write their code. Because the cloud provider dynamically distributes resources, developers only pay for the application’s actual usage and not for unused resources.
Developers who use a serverless architecture divide their program into a series of small, independent functions that are called when certain conditions are met. They can write each function in a variety of computer languages, including Python, Node.js, or Java, carrying out a particular purpose. The associated function is called when an event happens, and the cloud provider allows the resources required to carry out the function.
When comparing serverless vs containers, with serverless computing developers can create and deploy apps fast and easily without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. It is the perfect answer for a wide range of use cases, from straightforward web apps to intricate data processing pipelines, because of its high degree of scalability, flexibility, and affordability. Serverless computing has become increasingly popular in recent years as more developers adopt this cutting-edge method of creating cloud native applications.
Looking to learn more about Serverless? Read our blog about Serverless database.
Code, libraries, system tools, and configuration settings are all included in a Container, which is a small, standalone executable bundle of software. Containers, in contrast to typical virtual machines, share the kernel of the host machine and do not require a separate operating system.
Microservices, a sort of software architecture that includes dividing a large program into smaller, independent services that can be developed, deployed, and managed separately, are frequently created using Containers. You can deploy each microservice in its own Container; it is simple to scale it up or down in response to demand.
Containers’ mobility is one of their main benefits. Teams can move Containers between environments and run reliably no matter the underlying infrastructure because they come with everything needed to run an application. This makes it simpler to create, test, and deploy apps across various cloud service providers and platforms in context with Containers vs Serverless.
Overall, containers are a strong technology that has numerous advantages for the deployment and development of contemporary software.
A popular open-source containerization technology called Docker enables programmers to build, distribute, and operate applications in a containerized environment. Teams can build, test, and deploy applications across various environments more easily, thanks to Docker’s simplified container creation and management process. Docker’s portability is one of its main advantages.
You can move containers between various environments, including development, testing, and production, without needing changes to the underlying infrastructure. This facilitates team collaboration on projects and uniform application deployment across many settings. Moreover, Docker offers a standardized method for packaging and delivering programs, which simplifies sharing and reusing code between projects.
Ultimately, by offering a more streamlined and effective method of containerization, Docker has completely changed how developers construct and deploy programs.
Microservices is a software development strategy that divides big, monolithic applications into more manageable, autonomous services that collaborate to deliver an application’s overall functionality. Each Microservice in the system has its own codebase, is intended to carry out a single task, and can be created, deployed, and scaled independently of the other Microservices.
Software development is more agile and flexible thanks to the microservices architecture since you can make changes to individual microservices without affecting the entire program. Also, it enables teams to operate more independently on specific microservices, accelerating development and deployment timeframes.
Overall, you can enhance the scalability, dependability, and maintainability of complex software applications with microservices benefits.
Now that we have a basic understanding of serverless vs. containers, Docker, and microservices, let’s take a closer look at the serverless services offered by one of the leading cloud providers, AWS.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) offers a variety of serverless services so developers can deploy their apps without worrying about managing servers or infrastructure. These services aim to make app development and scaling simpler and more affordable.
To summarize, AWS offers an extensive range of serverless services that empower developers to create, implement, and operate applications without the need to concern themselves with managing infrastructure. And these are just a few of the many AWS serverless services.
You might be wondering why you need a specific service like AWS Lambda now that we’ve covered Serverless vs Containers, Docker, Microservices, and AWS Serverless Services. As cloud native apps grow in popularity, there is a higher demand for scalable, adaptable, and cost-efficient solutions. AWS Lambda is a serverless, event-driven computing service that enables developers to run code without having to worry about maintaining servers or infrastructure.
Lambda is a strong, fully managed, and flexible service that offers developers a number of advantages so they don’t have to worry about procuring or managing servers. This frees developers from worrying about infrastructure so they can concentrate on building and deploying code. By enabling developers to run code in response to events, Lambda also makes it simple for them to create highly scalable and responsive apps.
Moreover, Lambda offers a very cost-effective option because it doesn’t require any up-front payments or commitments and only costs the amount of memory you allocate, the duration of function execution, and the number of requests made. Read our article “AWS Lambda Pricing” to learn more about it.
The argument between Containers vs Serverless has dominated the discussion of Industry Usage Statistics and Trends in recent years. In order to gain insight into the situation of the industry at the moment, let’s look at it.
Serverless architecture and FaaS (Function-as-a-Service) have become increasingly popular among the CNCF community over the past year. According to the 2022 CNCF annual survey, serverless architecture/FaaS usage has increased from 30% to 53%, indicating a noticeable boost in its popularity. This trend can be partly attributed to serverless’s advantages, which include lower development costs, a faster time to market, and scalability. The increased use of serverless computing further emphasizes the significance of cloud native technologies and their function in modern application development.
Source: https://www.cncf.io/reports/cncf-annual-survey-2022/
According to the 2022 CNCF annual survey, containers have reached mainstream adoption, with 44% of respondents already using them for almost all business segments and applications. In the survey, an additional 35% of respondents said that they use containers for at least a few production applications.
Source: https://www.cncf.io/reports/cncf-annual-survey-2022/
It’s evident that Serverless vs Containers are becoming more and more popular and widely used across a range of sectors. Teams use Serverless technology more than containers, nevertheless.
Two well-known buzzwords as we delve into the area of modern application development are Containers vs Serverless. Both of these technologies intend to address particular difficulties in application development, and each has its own distinct advantages. While serverless is a more recent addition to the developer’s toolkit, containers have been around for a while. While there are some parallels between the two systems, they also have significant distinctions that make them more appropriate for particular purposes.
To decide the best strategy for your app development needs, we’ll examine the key differences between Serverless vs Containers.
Serverless: Developers can concentrate on writing code rather than handling infrastructure, which reduces the time it takes to market.
Containers: When deploying applications, containers take more setup time and management work.
Serverless: Because developers do not have to handle infrastructure, serverless architectures simplify the development and deployment of applications. It enables them to concentrate more on writing code and less on responsibilities related to infrastructure. For teams who want to focus on business logic and product development rather than infrastructure administration, serverless is the best option.
Containers: Applications benefit from containers’ lightweight, portable runtime environment as they are easier to move between environments. However, managing containers can be difficult and require a thorough understanding of the underlying technology. This limits the accessibility of containers for small teams or coders with little background in infrastructure.
Serverless: There is no need for manual scaling the application because the cloud provider does it automatically based on usage. Additionally, it makes sure that the infrastructure is extremely resilient and available to manage failures.
Containers: Scaling containers horizontally is simple, but it requires either building up a mechanism or scaling them manually. For large-scale applications, this can be time-consuming and difficult. So serverless is a preferable option if you want to automate scaling.
Serverless: Because the cloud provider handles infrastructure administration and failover mechanisms, serverless architectures are extremely available and resilient to failures.
Containers: Containers can also be highly available. But to guarantee failover mechanisms are in place, you need more manual configuration and infrastructure administration. For smaller teams or coders with less infrastructure expertise, this may be more difficult.
Serverless: Developers only pay for the specific resources that their applications actually use. As opposed to a fixed cost for the complete infrastructure. So, Serverless can be more cost-effective.
Containers: Regardless of usage, containers can be more expensive. This is because they need more infrastructure management and frequently have a fixed cost for the complete infrastructure.
Serverless: Developers can concentrate more on writing code and less on managing infrastructure, making development less costly. Lower development costs and a quicker time to market may come from this.
Containers: Managing and configuring additional infrastructure is necessary for containers, which can be time and money-consuming for developers. Higher development expenses and a longer time to market may follow from this.
Serverless: For smaller apps, serverless can deliver good performance. Because the cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure and dynamically grows the resources based on demand. For larger or more complicated programs, there might be performance concerns with cold starts or other factors.
Containers: On the other hand, containers need more human configuration and performance optimization. But they can deliver great performance for bigger and more complicated applications. To satisfy demand, they can also scale them horizontally.
Serverless: Node.js, Python, and Java are just some of the well-known programming languages and platforms compatible with serverless technology. However, it only supports a few programming languages. The specifics of the serverless languages allowed differ from serverless platform to serverless platform.
Containers: Developers must ensure that the app and supporting infrastructure are compatible with containers. Because they work with a variety of computer languages and platforms, but as long as the host server accepts the language, you can containerize an application created in any language.
Serverless: Because developers must rely on the infrastructure and services of the cloud provider, serverless designs risk vendor lock-in.
Containers: The risk of vendor lock-in is lower. Because containers are more flexible in terms of vendor selection and infrastructure administration.
Serverless: Because the cloud provider handles infrastructure security and patching, serverless systems may be more secure. Developers must, however, make sure that their code is safe and adheres to best practices.
Containers: Containers can also be secure, although doing so involves more human infrastructure maintenance and configuration. Developers must follow best practices and make sure to patch their containers.
Serverless: Centralized logging and monitoring are provided by serverless architectures. Making it simpler for developers to monitor and examine application logs.
Containers: Tracking and analyzing application logs is more challenging with containers. Since they require more manual configuration for logging and monitoring.
Both serverless and container technologies are well-suited for a number of use cases due to their adaptability. These technologies are becoming more and more well-liked and adaptable for a variety of projects as they develop and grow.
Here are a few of the most common use cases to implement Serverless vs Containers.
You can access Web apps using a web browser or other web-based interface. They fulfill a variety of functions, including e-commerce, social networking, collaboration tools, and content management systems. Sharp increases in user activity, marketing initiatives, or outside events can demand handling unanticipated traffic spikes. It is one of the main issues in developing online applications. In conventional systems, this typically requires expanding the underlying infrastructure by adding more servers or computer resources, which can be time-consuming and expensive.
Serverless architecture can solve this issue. It enables web applications to scale up or down in response to variations in demand without requiring manual intervention. This is accomplished by breaking down the app into manageable, independent functions. These can be run on demand in response to events or triggers.
Serverless architecture is a suitable fit for developing online apps that encounter unforeseen traffic for a few reasons:
Overall, serverless architecture enables scalable, cost-effective, and flexible development and deployment. It is an appropriate fit for online applications that withstand unforeseen traffic surges.
Data processing, file processing, and data analysis are examples of tasks that can be time and resource-intensive. Making them perfect candidates for serverless computing. Developers can create and execute these actions using serverless architecture without having to worry about managing the underlying infrastructure.
Without any manual assistance, serverless functions can process massive volumes of data since they can scale automatically based on demand. The processing of vast amounts of data in a particular order or sequence is necessary for jobs like data analysis.
The affordability of Serverless Computing is a major benefit for operations like data processing, file processing, and data analysis. Serverless architecture just requires that you pay for the computer resources that you really use when calling a function. Instead of maintaining a sizable, dedicated infrastructure.
Overall, it enables developers to handle data in batches or in real-time while being affordable and scalable. So serverless computing is an appropriate fit for jobs including data processing, file processing, and data analysis.
Applications that are event-driven are ones that are created to react to specific events or triggers. Like an incoming message or a user action. Because it enables developers to create code that is triggered by particular events or conditions without managing infrastructure, serverless computing is well-suited for creating event-driven applications.
Events can be generated by a variety of sources, including databases, messaging systems, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, in event-driven architectures. A serverless function can be triggered in response to an event to carry out a particular action or set of actions.
For instance, a serverless function can be used to process a file automatically when it is uploaded to a storage bucket. Such as resizing a picture or extracting content from a document. Similar to this, a serverless function can be triggered to update other systems. Such as sending a message or starting a workflow, whenever a new entry is added to a database.
Because serverless functions are capable of handling high numbers of events without requiring manual intervention, the serverless architecture enables event-driven applications to scale automatically in response to demand.
Overall, Serverless Computing is the best option for creating event-driven applications. Because it enables programmers to design code that is triggered by particular events or circumstances while still being scalable and affordable.
The process of developing and delivering software must include the deployment of applications. And containers have become a common method for doing so in real-world situations. How can you use containers for application deployment:
Overall, Containers are a consistent and dependable method for deploying applications in real-life situations. They are the perfect option for businesses wishing to streamline their application deployment process and guarantee that their applications function correctly in a variety of environments because of their consistency, dependability, scalability, and portability.
A Software Development practice called Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) aims to automate the entire software development process, from code changes to deployment in production environments. Containers offer a constant and dependable environment for application testing, building, and deployment, making them a great choice for CI/CD pipeline implementation.
Using containers in a CI/CD pipeline has the following advantages:
Overall, Containers offer a uniform, scalable, and automated environment for software development and deployment, making them the perfect choice for CI/CD pipeline implementation.
Applications are broken down into smaller, independent services that may be created, deployed, and managed separately using the microservices architecture approach to software development. Since containers offer a lightweight and portable environment for delivering and maintaining individual microservices, they are a great way to implement a microservices architecture.
There are various advantages to using containers in a microservices architecture:
Modernizing legacy applications involves modifying or moving them to newer platforms or technologies in order to increase their functionality, performance, and scalability. Because containers offer a flexible and scalable environment for deploying and maintaining programs, they can be used in the modernization of legacy applications.
There are various advantages to using containers for legacy application modernization:
Containers, in general, are a great way to modernize legacy applications since they can increase the performance, agility, and scalability of legacy applications, making it simpler to manage and update them over time.
An environment for designing, deploying, and managing serverless applications often comprises a number of components that function in harmony. The following are the main components of a serverless environment:
An environment for containers often consists of a number of parts that work together to create a platform for developing, deploying, and managing containerized applications. A container environment’s essential elements are as follows:
Although serverless architecture has grown to be well-liked and quite useful, there are still some circumstances in which it may not be the ideal fit. Here are some cases when you might want to think about using serverless alternatives instead:
A situation where serverless might not be the ideal choice is for long-running functions. Serverless functions are not appropriate for lengthy processes that need persistent state or continuous computation because they are stateless and event-driven by design. You might need to adopt an option like Containers, which can offer more control over the environment and allow long-running processes if your application requires functions to continue for a long period of time. Also, serverless functions have a maximum runtime restriction that might not be enough for your requirements. Moreover, long-running processes on a serverless platform may cost more.
If you need to utilize an unsupported programming language, that is another reason not to use serverless. While most serverless platforms support many widely used programming languages, including Node.js, Python, and Java, they might not support some languages or frameworks. This can make it more difficult for you to utilize the framework or language of your choice, pushing you to either use a supported one instead or choose another cloud computing service with more freedom.
Serverless solutions depend on the infrastructure and services offered by cloud providers, making vendor lock-in a possible risk. Switching to a different provider or platform can be challenging and time-consuming. As a result, you can find yourself dependent on one vendor and unable to transition to a different one, even if the latter would be more affordable or offer superior services. Hence, you might want to think about substituting alternatives that provide more flexibility and mobility if avoiding vendor lock-in is a goal.
In the end, your choice to adopt serverless should be based on the particular needs of your application. Despite its many advantages, it might not always be the best option.
Despite the fact that containers are an effective technology with numerous advantages, there are some situations in which they might not be the ideal option. You might not want to choose containers in the following circumstances:
The typical purpose of containers is to operate a single process or application in a separate environment. It might not be a good idea to containerize a huge, monolithic application with lots of components.
For containers to operate well, you may need substantial amounts of system resources like CPU, RAM, and storage. Running containers may be overly resource-intensive and have a severe impact on performance in low-resource environments, such as embedded systems or IoT devices. Moreover, managing and scaling containerized applications successfully may be difficult in low-resource environments because they might not have the infrastructure required to support container orchestration systems.
In general, desktop apps shouldn’t use containers. Containers are designed to execute isolated applications in a server environment, as opposed to desktop applications, which are normally installed and run directly on the user’s computer. Desktop apps can be challenging to bundle and distribute using containers, and there may be issues depending on the user’s hardware and operating system.
The overhead of containerization may outweigh the advantages for small and basic applications. It might be easier and more effective to run the program directly on the host operating system.
Ultimately, even though containers are a powerful technology, it’s crucial to take your unique use case and requirements into account before determining whether to adopt them.
Although microservices have many advantages, they might not always be the best option for every project. These are some scenarios in which using microservices may not be a good idea:
A monolithic design rather than a microservices architecture can be more suitable if your application is small and reasonably straightforward. A tiny application’s use of a microservices architecture may result in extra complexity and overhead.
If you’re on a tight budget, microservices might not be the greatest choice because creating and deploying them can be more expensive than using a monolithic architecture.
It may be difficult to properly implement microservices if your team is tiny and inexperienced with this architecture, as developing and deploying microservices demands a high level of competence and coordination.
A monolithic design might be adequate if the complexity requirements for your application are low. Using a microservices architecture for simpler applications could result in extra complexity because its intention is to handle complex applications.
It could be challenging to incorporate a legacy system into a microservices architecture for you, which could cause compatibility problems and add to the complexity.
Therefore, before determining whether to deploy microservices, it is imperative to carefully evaluate the requirements of your project and balance their advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s summarise the differences between Serverless vs Containers in the following table. Keeping in mind that each technology has its own strengths and weaknesses. Serverless computing offers faster time to market and simplified development by automatically scaling and handling high availability, but it can be more costly due to its pay-as-you-go model and potential vendor lock-in.
In contrast, Containers provide greater control and flexibility, with consistent performance and support for a wide range of programming languages, but they require more setup and management, resulting in potentially higher costs and a greater need for manual scaling and failover mechanisms. The decision of which one to use ultimately depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project.
| Category | Serverless | Containers |
| Time to Market | Faster due to reduced infrastructure management | Slower due to more setup and management work |
| Easy to work | Simplifies development and deployment | Compatible with any language supported by the host server |
| Scaling | Automatically scales based on usage | Can be scaled horizontally but requires manual effort |
| High Availability | Extremely resilient and available to manage failures | Resilient but requires manual failover mechanisms |
| Costs on the Cloud | More cost-effective due to the pay-as-you-go model | More expensive due to fixed infrastructure costs |
| Costs on Development | Less costly due to reduced infrastructure management | More expensive due to additional infrastructure management |
| Performance | Good performance for smaller apps, but may have concerns | Great performance for larger and more complicated apps |
| Compatibility | Supports specific programming languages and platforms | Compatible with any language supported by host server |
| Vendor lock-in | Risks vendor lock-in due to reliance on cloud provider | Lower risk due to flexibility in vendor selection |
| Security | More secure due to cloud provider handling infrastructure | Can be secure with proper maintenance and configuration |
| Logs | Provides centralized logging and monitoring | More challenging to track and analyze application logs |
When picking the ideal architecture for your application, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Serverless vs Containers, and microservices are all potent technologies. Each has specific benefits and drawbacks. Your individual project requirements, such as application complexity, budget, team skills, and integration with existing systems, should be the basis for your choice between Serverless vs Containers.
The trade-offs between scalability, adaptability, and maintenance costs must be taken into account while deciding between Serverless vs Containers. Serverless might not be the ideal option if your application needs long-running functions or unsupported languages. Microservices might not be the most cost-effective option in some cases. Like if you have a tiny or simple application, a limited budget, or a small and inexperienced development team. Containers might not be the best for a desktop application, a massive monolithic system, or has limited resources.
Choosing between Serverless vs Containers for your application is a serious choice that shouldn’t be made lightly. Regardless of the architecture you select, at ClickIT, we are available to help you with its implementation. Our team of professionals can help you through the procedure. We’ll ensure your application is developed and deployed successfully, freeing you up to concentrate on your main business goals.
This blog is also available on Medium.
The answer here depends on the application’s needs and particular use case. While containers are better suited for long-running, complicated applications that demand more control over the infrastructure, serverless is best for event-driven, short-lived functions.
While containers offer more control and flexibility over infrastructure and may be utilized for a larger range of applications, serverless provides a streamlined, event-driven approach to application development. So, no, serverless cannot replace containers.
Depending on the particular needs of the application, Serverless vs Containers can both be appropriate for a microservices architecture. For simple, event-driven microservices, serverless can be a good fit, whereas containers can work well for more substantial, complicated microservices.
2024 is ending, and that only means one thing: ClickIT’s year in review! This year…
Have you ever wondered how businesses easily process enormous volumes of data, derive valuable insights,…
Discover the steps for developing cloud applications, from costs to cloud app deployment
Imagine launching your product with just the core features, getting honest user feedback, and then…
When a tight deadline is non-negotiable, every second counts! Here’s how we developed and launched…
You may have considered hiring a nearshore software development company or services, but you still have doubts…