Serverless vs Containers: Which One Should You Use?
In the high-speed tech environment today, app builders are continually searching for the magic bullet that lets them make apps quicker, less expensively, and with fewer headaches. Two of the biggest buzzwords you’ve heard are “Serverless” and “Containers.” So, what exactly do they refer to? And most importantly, WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU USE?
What is Serverless?
Envision typing out your code, pushing it up, and zap — it just executes! That is serverless. You never worry about servers, hardware, or scaling. All that gets managed for you by cloud vendors like AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, or Azure Functions.
Advantages of Serverless:
- No Server Maintenance: Think of code only.
- Auto Scaling: It deals with thousands of users or even one on its own.
- Pay-As-You-Go: Pay only when your code executes.
Drawbacks of Serverless:
- Cold Start Delays: Occasionally, it takes a second to “wake up.”
- Limited Control: Less control over the infrastructure.
- Not Suitable for Long-Running Tasks: Serverless is best for short bursts.
What are Containers?
Consider containers as light virtual machines. They package your application along with all it requires (code, libraries, dependencies) into a tidy bundle. Docker and Kubernetes are tools used to manage these containers.
Advantages of Containers:
- More Control: Make your environment whatever you want.
- Consistency: On your laptop or in production, it behaves the same way.
- Good for Microservices: Ideal for developing modular applications.
Disadvantages of Containers:
- You Manage Servers: Need to manage infrastructure (unless you’re using a managed Kubernetes service).
- More Complex: Can involve learning Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Can Be Costly: Depending on how you deploy, it can be more expensive.
Serverless vs Containers: When to Use What?
Scenario
| Go Serverless | Use Containers |
|---|---|
| Small app or simple backend API? | Fast and cost-effective |
| Complex app with custom requirements? | Not very flexible |
| Want to not have to deal with infrastructure? | Serverless takes care of it |
| Creating a microservices application? | Better handled in containers |
| Low-traffic short-term project? | Inexpensive and simple |
| Long-running background processes or jobs? | Not the best |
So, What Should Students Choose?
If you’re just beginning or creating small projects, serverless can enable you to deploy faster without concerning yourself with infrastructure. It’s ideal for personal projects, prototypes, or rapid APIs.
