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Tech

Do Serverless React Kill Traditional Web Development?

Ronak Patel 11 Stories

Tuesday January 08, 2019 , 8 min Read

If you want to open a website, you have a number of processes to follow and then you get your website as a whole. However, with the advancement of technology, we get a new way of doing things and so does in the web development field.

Web or mobile app developers have also gone through several changes so far since its inception. However, this is now time for adopting trendy technology such as Serverless Computing or Serverless Architecture and stay unbeatable in the market.

What is Serverless Computing

Serverless Computing is all about developing and running an application without thinking of its server. Traditionally, you have to follow some of the steps to get application run on the server.

First, you develop an application, then you need to host it on server space where you need to deploy it again to run the application. For this, you have to follow a bit complex procedures such as planning -capacity of the application, procurement, installation of hardware -server hardware, software, etc. And, all these things have to be done by the developers. It turns out to be costly and time-consuming, yet, you have to spend over its maintenance from time to time.

Issue with Server Based Architecture

Whereas, Serverless has come emitting all these complexities and provided compact solutions for marketers and developers. Now developers get enough time to focus more and only on its core products -without thinking of its managing and run-time.

The Serverless architecture will manage everything that is required to run and scale the application. Serverless does not mean that there is no server, it is involved but they are invisible to users.

Usually, they are handled by the third party Serverless service providers like AWS, IBM, Google, Microsoft etc. However, you can see everything virtually and do everything that you can do with the traditional hosting server.

How It Began?

Every technological development is connected to our past actions and so does the Serverless architecture. It also relates to our past 1950s punch card when it was used as the development process.

Come 2012 when the term ‘Serverless’ introduced while in 2015 it became popular after the AWS Lambda launched in 2014. After that, various tech giant introduced Serverless architecture those include;

AWS (Amazon Web Service) Lambda
Microsoft Azure
IBM OpenWhisk
Google Cloud Platform
Kubeless
Spotinst
Webtasks
Fn
Cloudflare Workers

Why Serverless Computing?

First off, Serverless computing is new and it is getting hype as some of the top companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, Finra, Robot, Localytics, etc. have adopted this technology. Besides, according to the survey conducted by the Cloud Foundry Foundation stated that “19 per cent of the IT decision makers have adopted Serverless technology while 42 per cent are planning to adopt this in the next 24 months”.

Question Remains…Why?

The simple reason is that consumer demands are so high that every company wants to reach with the services and products to the higher and maximum number of clients and consumers. And Serverless proves to be the boon for them by helping them offer services faster. In short, it helps service providers to satisfy your customers by fulfilling demands that too at the very minimal cost.

Benefits of Serverless Computing

As the technology is new, there is not so much to talk about, but there are top reasons why you should consider (not consider) to adopt this technology. For example,

Ease for Developers:

Serverless technology allows developers to focus more writing code and on core products. Whereas they do not have to worry about its server and platforms at all.

Fast Service:

Having adopted Serverless Technology, you can provide service at doubled speed. Yes, boosts the performance of your team with 100% accuracy.

Maintainability:

It needs no configuration and it can automatically maintain load balancing and scaling.

Reliability:

Your data is stored in the multi-level redundant backup system while the code and configuration are stored in OSS. Therefore, no chances are there that your data may be lost or leaked.

Cost:

Cost wise, you get big relief when you use Serverless computing. You need to spend based on “Pay as you go.” Yes, billing will be based on the uses while there is no maintenance staff and hosting fees with Serverless computing.

Security:

Intact security is guaranteed here with Serverless computing. Your data is protected with a multi-layer security system.

How Serverless Different from Cloud Computing?

Serverless and Cloud Computing are parallel to each other. In fact, cloud computing is just like getting software run from your friend’s computer who is sitting somewhere else while Serverless is the subset of it. It is based the “function” -a citation of a small bit of logic. In simple term, you just create a function and feature and upload them on Serverless system and sit back. It will act faster help you satisfy your purposes.

Besides, Serverless offer computing runtime which is also known as Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) and it works to execute the function without storing the data.

How Serverless Changing the Traditional Way of Web development

When there is any technological advancement, it digs the graveyard for the traditional or previous tech development. Similarly, as the Serverless technology is growing great, it will soon be adopted by almost all the top companies in the world. Then, do you think, there will be an option left for the rest of the companies? No. they have to adopt this -Serverless computing/architecture.

Is Serverless the Beginning of the End of Human Needs in Web Development

We can’t say this, but the way technology is acting and coming out new developments every now and then, it gives clear sign that in coming days, months or year, all marketing processes such as web and mobile development process will be dependent on Serverless system. But again, that does not mean that there will no human needs, workforce still needed to manage these things at large. So for now, we can say that we are growing towards the advanced technological era, but we can’t exclude human needs. It is intact and will be forever. We cannot trust machine without human involvement. Similarly, Serverless too requires considerable workforce to be operational.

Features of Serverless Computing

Serverless computing provides the following features.

Reduces infrastructure need:

That means you need to provide functionality, not the software and therefore it requires minimal infrastructure management.

Ease of Integration:

Built applications quickly with OSS as it requires only function, not the complete software.

Effect of Serverless Computing among Marketers

According to some reports, Serverless system and those having physical setup will run parallel to each other. It will be helpful for the startups not for the established organizations. Those who have already have set up their personal server will be tough to migrate to this technology.

Why React JS with Serverless Computing

React JS is all set to rule the roost with serverless computing. There are some valid reasons for it. Serverless is all about offering faster service to consumers and React JS is all popular for its fast-performing web applications. So, when you get the serverless system along with React JS, it doubles up the performance. And, ultimately, you create an outstanding React web Application which is faster, smoother and scalable.

Besides, when you create an eCommerce website where SEO and speed matters a lot to convert your prospect into customers, React JS perfectly fits into this scenario. It works to maximize resources, cut costs and slash deployment cycles. So, Let’s speed up your business with Serverless Architecture combining with React JS.

Use of React JS With AWS (Amazon Web Services)

An expert ReactJs Developers generally go through many complexities when they build applications for Serverless technology. API routing, CORS settings, endpoint authorization, and user authentication can be complex to manage, though the AWS has released ReactJS starter project which explains the details of how to manage these complexities. You need to follow some procedures which have explained details by the AWS blog.

Are There Any Disadvantages of Serverless Computing?

So far, we have talked much about its benefits, but is there any disadvantages of this newly developed system -Serverless Computing? No doubt, as everything has some drawback, Serverless is not exceptional to that. It has some disadvantages and knowing them will help pre-alert you before it causes any harm.

It is not beneficial for the long-term task: Serverless is supportive of long-term tasks and if there is any task which is longer -more than five minutes, you need to call another function. AWS Lambda offers only five minutes to executes tasks which will not be suitable if you want to upload videos, though calling additional ‘FaaS’ function can eliminate these problems.

Conclusion

Serverless Computing is something that everyone needs it. However, it is more important for the Start-ups. And if you are not finding it more useful, you need to explore more about the technology. However, for those, who have long-term tasks to carry out, needs to wait for sometime. As the technology, initially, not helpful for the long-term tasks.