Tag: applications

DevelopmentSaaS

Serverless Computing vs. Containers – Which one to choose?

on January 28, 2019

Over the last couple of years, there has been a significant rise in the adoption of serverless computing. And the adoption of Containers is also growing at a rapid pace. And this probably brings you to the question – should you choose Serverless or Containers. This is because both these technologies have something in common.

The similarities between the two:

Serverless is a good option for microservices. Containers is perfect for microservices as well. They both have a modern architecture that can cater to your requirements in the future as well. And they both possess skills when it comes to leveraging the most strategic innovations in distributed systems, and they let you develop and deploy large-scale applications. But yes, there are slight differences in the way the deployment is made.

What is serverless? 

Serverless computing is called so because enterprises do not have to purchase servers for operating their backend code. It is not that there aren’t any servers, the servers are there, but they are managed and handled by the third-party vendors who are fully responsible for the working of the servers. When AWS Lambda and Azure Functions were launched as cloud based services for serverless computing, they instantly became a hot trend.

What are the containers?

Containers are an operating system virtualization method whereby you have everything to run and deploy an application without any hassle. It has all the elements like system settings, system libraries and all other elements to run the application. Therefore, you can use the containers to deploy any type of application. All the Container needs is hosting and they can run anywhere in a single package. It can run consistently and quickly without worrying about the deployment environment.

It is important to conduct an educative assessment between Serverless and Containers. This is because Serverless is not suitable everywhere and a wrong choice can break everything. Hence, it is important to determine what kind of architecture you need, the application it has to host and the steps to be taken for successful deployment.

Image source: Pexels

Here are some situations where you can use serverless computing.

To process real-time data streams and uploads – Serverless functions make it easy to transfer resource intensive real-time processes away from the main applications. So, it is perfectly capable of parsing and filtering incoming data streams, manage input from real-time devices, manage both intermittent and high-throughput data streams and process uploaded files.

It can manage high-volume background processes – Serverless makes it possible to move data at high volume to an analytics service. This could be very beneficial in point of sale services where serverless makes it possible to coordinate inventory, manage different databases including order and transaction databases, and even intermittent tasks like restocking.

It can manage backend tasks of mobile/web applications – Serverless takes a request from the frontend (of the website or application), retrieve the information and then hand it back to the front end. The billing for this kind of tasks will be based on the backend tasks that it does; all other times it is idle.

Containers can fill out the limitations posed by serverless computing

Serverless computing does come with its share of limitations, so you do really need something to counter that.

Earlier, it was mentioned that Azure Functions and AWS Lambda services were hot trends when they were released, but there are limits that inhibit their full functionality. There are restrictions on memory use, size, time available for functions to run and so on. Hence, vendors take care to keep the functions small so they don’t take too much of the system’s resources. Imagine the situation wherein a small number of high demand users block everyone else out or at worst, overload the systems. That could be really bad, right?

Similarly, debugging and performance analysis are also restricted because they are too primitive. It is also difficult to use several of the monitoring tools with serverless functions because of the lack of access to the function’s container management system.

Image source: Pexels

A few areas where serverless computing loses out to containers

(1) Easy for large and complex applications

A container-based application can be large and complex and it is possible to tailor the new architecture as per the redesigned system. If you try to apply the same through a server less application, you may still be able to do it, but you would have to encounter several bottlenecks as there would be size and memory constraints.

(2) The developer gets full control

Another advantage of a container-based application is that the developer gets full power and control of the containers. The developer can debug and test with the complete set of resources at his disposal, perform in-depth monitoring, performance tuning on a microservice by microservice level. Microservices are applications that can be broken into smaller, scalable and deployable components on an independent level.

(3) Makes migration easier

It is easier to migrate your applications in containers, taking the pain out of deployment. It is also easy to move the apps between servers.

Closing Thoughts

Containers would be a good choice if flexibility during installation is more important for you, especially with software that has specific version requirement. It gives the developer control over the installed programming language and runtime version.

However, more of manual intervention is needed with Containers, when you compare this with serverless computing. This makes serverless computing a better option, especially if you want automatic detection and handling of traffic pattern changes. It is also a good option when you don’t want to be bothered about administration of the underlying infrastructure, because all you need to do is worry about the business value and the quality of code.

Choose Containers:

When flexibility is more important to you, and when you need easy migration between legacy services.

Choose Serverless:

When you prefer automatic scaling of apps, want speed of development to be accelerated and would like to lower runtime costs.

 

Author Bio:

Digital Marketing Manager with 7 years of experience. Passionate about the latest trends in Digital Marketing, Technology and App Development.

InsightsSaaS

List Of The Most Desirable Apps For 2019

on December 17, 2018

You require a certain degree of seriousness before you decide to start your mobile business application. If you can amass it, then the time is perfectly ripe to begin, as app development offers profound business opportunities. According to analyses conducted by relevant bodies, the sales of smartphones are increasing day by day. It further explains that the number of people involving in digital interactions on a regular basis is also increasing continuously. However, before contacting some of the best app development organizations, you have to think about the type of application that will bring in profits and revenue, while engaging more users in a short period.

  1. Transportation applications

Traveling is essentiality that people want to be sure of before stepping out of the house. Your mobile app development company in India can help users decide on the right public transportation mode. The selection can be according to convenience, economy or time-saving facilities. Offline services attract more users than online ones, and you can exploit that feature to draw in customers.

 

  1. Dating applications

Researches are pointing out that the smartphone is the reason behind people becoming lonely. With a mobile application that allows a user to communicate with likeminded and interesting people, your business can race past others in no time. Your app can import users from some of the existing media platforms via a system that lets two people search out partners based on compatibility.

 

  1. Task management applications

If there is an application which users can utilize to manage tasks and make plans, then it allows the user to maintain motivational levels. A unique app like this one will remind the user of daily chores like setting up alarms, informing about housework, examinations, workouts, and others.

Source – Pixabay

 

  1. Food delivery applications

When guests are only a few kilometers away from the doorstep, preparing meals in time gets tough. That is why food delivery apps are so much in demand these days. If you can create an application for grub delivery, then there is a possibility of it achieving success in an instant. Users always appreciate applications that ensure fast delivery of food from renowned and favored restaurants.

 

  1. Job hunting applications

A rather unusual idea for an app but has the potential to succeed, job search applications are essential in today’s time. It will be a marketplace where employers and job seekers can come face-to-face. Go to an application developing agency for the creation of this dream smartphone application. Entrepreneurs also use online platforms to hire full-timers or freelancers.

Source – Pixabay

 

  1. Emergency applications

A sudden and unpredictable emergency can ruin a day at any time. So, a disaster, terror or emergency warning app can be a brilliant idea. There are already multiple apps regarding coverage of unforeseen and unfavorable situations. These apps have an alert function which prepares you to face a disaster or inform relatives and loved ones. Such an application can also notify the police, fire departments, hospitals, and others.

 

  1. Gifting applications

The busy and hectic life of today doesn’t allow a person time for purchasing gifts for loved ones. An application can let you send flowers, gift cards, toys and other goodies with a single touch. It will be quite a surprise for the recipient or receiving a gift without any prior information. A user can connect to the application and select gifts, flower bouquets, chocolates, and other special items.

 

  1. Reservation applications

You aren’t always in a mood to go out for dinner, and when you have it, you can’t afford to spoil it. Most reputable and renowned restaurants remain full almost every day, and prior reservations are the only way to grab a bite. An app which allows a user to book a table with multiple options can be successful in no time. It is one such app that will have a design to meet necessities of unexpected dinner outings.

 

  1. Holiday planning applications

Now that the internet is bestowing uninterrupted knowledge and information, many people utilize holidays by planning trips. You can think about app developers to prepare an application for you that will let a user plan vacations. Such an application can contain reliable audio information that anyone can listen to. It can also have facilities like searching for restaurants, bars, taxis, buses entertainment modes, etc.

 

  1. Fitness applications

As mentioned before, the internet is the all-knowing digital partner of everybody currently. As a result, many people are finding out the pros of fitness and good health. Just as it is difficult to go to a shop to purchase a gift, finding out time to visit gyms is also negligible. For that reason, fitness applications of today are one of the favorite choices of youngsters. These apps encourage users to pursue goals of fitness, health or bodybuilding.

 

  1. VR/AR applications

There are mobile apps that companies develop based on a VR system. A user can click a picture of the interior that will undergo revamping and then compare the different objects, colors, backgrounds, or for adding an amenity like furniture. With an AR app, a user can scan a room with a smartphone camera and place the selected items to decide on the style and compatibility.

Source – Pixabay

 

Best ideas

Given above are some of the best ideas for applications in the upcoming year. As mentioned before, more and more people are relying on smartphones with every passing second. It is quite understandable that a significant number of users will join in the squad in the upcoming years. For people who find mobile applications puzzling, this article should clear everything up. After all, without knowledge of different application types, it will be almost impossible to start the business you wish to open. This topic will expand your understanding of the multitudes of applications that are flooding the smartphones of users. You also have to consider going for such applications that the customers are currently seeking. The wrong one can lead to a complete waste of your investment.