Serverless tech and more
Tags: serverless, webdev, programming, productivity
Published: 2024-02-27 19:54:51


I truly like this place to write and share some ideas. In general, there are a lot of people sharing about new trends and technologies, which makes the place really focalized. I enjoy some of the most updated posts about Neon, which seems to be part of this new trend of having serverless apps, for example. But here, I will drop some thoughts related to the evolution of serverless computing and how it has transformed the technological landscape over the past decade.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/s0pslsuoc5vmhc9jqp7j.png)

In the past decade, the technology landscape has seen a significant shift towards serverless computing, transforming the way applications are built, deployed, and managed. This evolution has been driven by advancements in cloud computing, the rise of Function as a Service (FaaS) platforms, and the growing demand for scalable, cost-effective solutions.

Serverless computing offers several key advantages over traditional cloud computing models. Firstly, automatic scaling is a cornerstone feature. Serverless applications can automatically scale up and down based on demand, without the need for manual intervention. This is a significant improvement over traditional architectures, where scaling requires manual configuration and monitoring. Secondly, cost efficiency is greatly enhanced. With serverless, developers pay only for the compute time consumed, reducing the operational costs associated with maintaining servers. This is in stark contrast to the traditional model where costs are incurred regardless of whether the server is actively being used. Lastly, simplified operations play a crucial role. Serverless architectures abstract away the underlying infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than managing servers. This abstraction reduces the complexity of operations and deployment, making it easier to deploy and manage applications.

Comparing the current state with that of ten years ago, the differences are striking. A decade ago, the technology landscape was dominated by monolithic architectures, where applications were built as a single, unified unit. However, this approach had several limitations. Scaling monolithic applications was challenging and often required manual intervention. Operating such applications on dedicated servers could be expensive, especially when the applications were not fully utilized. Additionally, deploying and managing monolithic applications required significant effort and expertise in server management.

The shift towards serverless computing has addressed many of these limitations. Today, serverless applications can automatically scale to meet demand, providing a more responsive user experience. They offer a more cost-effective solution by charging only for the resources used. Moreover, serverless computing simplifies deployment and management by handling server management and scaling automatically.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/30v8emzpdpgp4b5drqgn.png)


NEON is a notable tool mentioned in the context of serverless applications, especially in relation to Hasura for connecting data sources and exposing them as a GraphQL API, there are several other trendy technologies and tools that are making waves in the serverless landscape. Here's a look at some of the most trendy technologies and tools for serverless applications:

**1. AlloyDB by Google:** AlloyDB is an innovative database solution that can handle both transactional and analytical workloads. This makes it a versatile option for serverless applications that require high performance and flexibility in handling various types of data.

**2. Ably:** Ably offers real-time infrastructure with support for queues and message durability options. This is crucial for applications that require real-time data processing and communication.

**3. Crunchy Postgres:** Crunchy Postgres focuses on performance, availability, cost-effectiveness, and supporting all native Postgres features. It's a solid choice for serverless applications that rely heavily on relational data.

**4. Hasura:** Hasura facilitates easy connection of data from various sources and exposes it as a GraphQL API. It can utilize NEON under-the-hood as the database provider, making it a powerful tool for serverless applications.

**5. Liveblocks:** Liveblocks provides real-time building blocks and has a “storageblock” in Beta, offering persistence for presence. This is particularly useful for applications that require real-time interaction and data synchronization.

**6. Replicache:** Replicache is a database synchronization engine that can be coupled with other solutions. It's useful for applications that do not require real-time solutions but need data synchronization across instances.

**7. TimeScale:** TimeScale is designed for both transactional and analytical workloads, adding features found in NoSQL databases to Postgres and integrating with S3 for storage. This makes it a versatile option for serverless applications with complex data requirements.

**8. Connectionless Programming Model:** This is a new approach where developers don't need to manage manual connections. It exposes solutions through an SDK or HTTP API, aligning more closely with the stateless nature of HTTP and the scale-to-zero compute capabilities of serverless environments.

**9. Web Native Programming:** Databases and solutions that use HTTP APIs or WebSockets instead of opening direct connections to the database are becoming more popular. This makes them compatible with all forms of compute, including edge compute.

**10. Lightweight Client Libraries:** As complexity shifts to the database vendor, client libraries are becoming thinner. This trend is beneficial for serverless applications, as it reduces the burden on developers and allows for more efficient use of serverless resources.

The move to serverless computing has totally changed the game, giving us perks like better scalability, lower costs, and way simpler operations than what we had ten years back. It's all thanks to how cloud tech has advanced and the increasing need for adaptable, budget-friendly solutions in app development and deployment. And you know what? As tech keeps on changing, it's pretty obvious that serverless computing is gonna be a big deal in how we develop and deploy apps in the future.