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A Frictionless Way of Building Serverless Applications on AWS β‘οΈ
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Hi Reader ππ½
Let's start with the obvious: We love AWS Lambda! πβ
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And we're pretty sure you too, regardless of whether you're a long-term AWS Fundamentals subscriber or just recently joined. π
That's why we want to dedicate this newsletter to the fastest IaC to launch Serverless applications on AWS: The Serverless Framework
Citing DataDog's The State of Serverless:
Even more:
Let's get going! πΎ
Why Bother with Serverless Framework?
Creating the necessary infrastructure for a simple service powered by Lambda and exposed to the internet via API Gateway can be a complex task.
While it is possible to manually configure everything in the AWS console, this approach is not recommended for serious projects due to its lack of reproducibility and potential for errors.
Serverless Framework simplifies this tremendously. It abstracts away much of the boilerplate configuration needed for Lambda, API Gateway, and other native integrations with AWS services like SQS or EventBridge.
In addition, Serverless Framework handles the packaging of your code and offers a powerful CLI that allows you to easily deploy Lambda functions.
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Serverless Templates
When running sls , you will be prompted to choose a starter template, so you can get things going very quickly.
But that's not all offered by Serverless Framework.
There's also a searchable set of Real-world (π) serverless architecture examples. ποΈ
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Abstraction in Perfection
Serverless Framework provides a wide range of tools and features that not only simplify the process of setting up intricate infrastructure configurations but also incorporate industry best practices seamlessly.
Let's explore its concepts. π
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Services
In the Serverless Framework, a service is a fundamental unit of organization that is defined by the serverless.yml configuration file (or serverless.ts if you want to use TypeScript!).
This configuration file is then transformed into a CloudFormation template, which is used to create the necessary resources.
To create a new service configuration, you can simply run the sls command without any parameters. ποΈ
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Functions
Functions serve as the compute layer in your serverless architecture, running on AWS Lambda.
They operate independently in terms of execution and deployment. While they typically serve a single purpose (small, dedicated functions), they are not limited to it and can perform multiple tasks if needed (fat functions).
Serverless Framework also offers easy configuration for:
- VPCs for private networks
- Lambda Layers for externalizing dependencies
- Destinations
- Dead Letter Queues for failed invocations
- Versioning of functions
- X-Ray & tracing
β¦ and much more.
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Packaging
In the previous instance, we discussed an externally packaged deployment unit as an example.
However, Serverless also offers the capability to package your function's code internally.
Rather than relying on an artifact, you can utilize patterns to specify the files that should be included in your deployment unit ZIP file.
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Triggers
Serverless simplifies the process of creating triggers for your functions through events such as HTTP calls or messages.
It automatically creates the required infrastructure to seamlessly connect these events to your functions. π€
π‘ Example: An HTTP event is received through the Gateway, specifically for the /api/* path.
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Community Plugins
Serverless is an incredibly robust tool that comes equipped with a wide range of built-in features.
However, there's even more potential via the community plugins available! π₯
Naming just a few prominent ones:
- Resource Tagging (
serverless-plugin-resource-tagging) - easily add default tags for all of your templateβs resources. - Domain Manager (
serverless-domain-manager) - add custom domain names for your API Gateways without any effort. - If/Else (
serverless-plugin-ifelse) - create resources based on conditions, e.g. if you donβt want to have certain resources only in specific regions or stages. - AWS Alerts (
serverless-plugin-aws-alerts) - create CloudWatch alerts in just a few lines of code. - Step Functions (
serverless-step-functions) - create Step Functions event workflows.
The plugin ecosystem is vast, offering a wide range of plugins to cater to almost any use case.
Much More to Explore
In this brief overview, we have only scratched the surface of the Serverless Framework and its capabilities. There is so much more to explore and learn about this powerful tool.
For a more comprehensive understanding, we recommend diving into our dedicated section on the Serverless Framework in our AWS Fundamentals book. π
So, if you're hungry for more information and eager to expand your understanding, be sure to check it out! As a newsletter subscriber, you're always in for a 15% discount on all of our products π
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Beyond AWS Fundamentals
We wanted to give a shoutout to Alex DeBrie, an AWS Hero with a knack for DynamoDB, serverless applications, and cloud-native technologies. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned AWS user, Alex's expertise can help you and your team make the most of AWS.
One thing that sets Alex apart is his ability to explain complex concepts in a simple and approachable way. He's also a fantastic writer, with articles like How you should think about DynamoDB costs and Event-Driven Architectures vs. Event-Based Compute in Serverless Applications showcasing his deep understanding of AWS services and his practical solutions to common challenges.
If you are looking to work with DynamoDB in the future, we highly recommend buying and reading βThe DynamoDB Bookβ. This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights and guidance on effectively utilizing DynamoDB. It covers various topics, including best practices, advanced techniques, and practical examples, making it the perfect reference.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, it will greatly enhance your understanding and proficiency in working with DynamoDB.
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We'll also finish this issue with Alex by passing you one of his articles about Serverless Framework vs. AWS CDK.
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Wishing you a great week & happy learning! π
Sandro & Tobi π
Still hungry for AWS content? Have a look at our blog! π β
AWS for the Real World
Join our community of over 8,800 readers delving into AWS. We highlight real-world best practices through easy-to-understand visualizations and one-pagers. Expect a fresh newsletter edition every two weeks.
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