How does serverless computing fit into the distributed web paradigm?

Serverless computing fits into the distributed web paradigm by providing on-demand, scalable resources for distributed applications.

In the distributed web paradigm, applications are designed to run across multiple interconnected systems rather than on a single centralised server. This approach increases the resilience, scalability, and efficiency of web applications, as they can leverage the combined resources of multiple systems. Serverless computing fits perfectly into this paradigm, as it allows developers to build and run applications without having to manage the underlying infrastructure.

Serverless computing, also known as Function as a Service (FaaS), is a cloud computing model where the cloud provider dynamically manages the allocation and provisioning of servers. A serverless application runs in stateless compute containers that are event-triggered, ephemeral (may only last for one invocation), and fully managed by the cloud provider. This means that developers can focus on writing their application code, without worrying about the operational aspects of server management, such as capacity planning, patching, or scaling.

In the context of the distributed web, serverless computing offers several key benefits. Firstly, it provides on-demand scalability. As the load on a distributed application increases, serverless computing platforms can automatically allocate more resources to handle the additional demand. This allows distributed applications to scale seamlessly, without any manual intervention from developers.

Secondly, serverless computing supports the development of microservices, which are a key component of the distributed web. Microservices are small, independent services that work together to form a larger application. By using serverless computing, developers can build and deploy individual microservices independently, which increases the flexibility and agility of the development process.

Finally, serverless computing can also improve the cost-efficiency of distributed applications. In traditional server-based models, developers must pay for a fixed amount of server capacity, regardless of how much they actually use. In contrast, serverless computing operates on a pay-as-you-go model, where developers only pay for the resources they actually consume. This can significantly reduce the cost of running distributed applications, especially for workloads with variable or unpredictable demand.

In summary, serverless computing is a key enabler of the distributed web paradigm, providing on-demand, scalable resources that allow developers to build efficient, resilient, and cost-effective distributed applications.