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FaaS vs Kubernetes: What are the differences?
Introduction
In the realm of cloud computing, there are two popular options for managing containerized applications: FaaS (Function as a Service) and Kubernetes. Both offer unique advantages and choosing between them depends on specific needs and requirements. Below are the key differences between FaaS and Kubernetes.
Scalability: FaaS platforms like AWS Lambda automatically scale based on incoming requests, allowing for efficient resource utilization and cost-effectiveness. On the other hand, Kubernetes provides more control over scalability as it allows users to manually scale deployments based on specific resource requirements and application demands.
Resource Allocation: FaaS abstracts infrastructure management, making it easier for developers to focus solely on code without worrying about underlying resources. In contrast, Kubernetes requires users to manage resource allocation, including CPU, memory, and storage, giving them more control over the infrastructure configuration.
Deployment Complexity: FaaS simplifies deployment by providing a serverless environment where developers can upload their functions for execution without having to manage servers. Kubernetes, while offering flexibility, requires users to set up and maintain a cluster, which can be more complex and time-consuming.
Scheduled Tasks: Kubernetes supports cron jobs for executing periodic tasks, making it suitable for applications that require scheduled operations. FaaS platforms may not have built-in support for scheduled tasks, requiring developers to implement workarounds or integrate with external services for such functionality.
State Management: Kubernetes can manage stateful applications effectively through persistent volumes and stateful sets, allowing for data persistence and storage. FaaS functions are stateless by design, making them more suitable for event-driven, ephemeral tasks that do not require persistent data storage.
Cost Structure: FaaS platforms often follow a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where users are charged based on the number of function executions and resource consumption. In contrast, Kubernetes deployments may involve fixed costs for maintaining cluster infrastructure, which can vary depending on the chosen cloud provider or hosting environment.
In Summary, while FaaS offers serverless simplicity and automatic scaling, Kubernetes provides more control over resource allocation, deployment complexity, scheduled tasks, state management, and cost structure, making it a versatile choice for containerized applications.
Our whole DevOps stack consists of the following tools:
- GitHub (incl. GitHub Pages/Markdown for Documentation, GettingStarted and HowTo's) for collaborative review and code management tool
- Respectively Git as revision control system
- SourceTree as Git GUI
- Visual Studio Code as IDE
- CircleCI for continuous integration (automatize development process)
- Prettier / TSLint / ESLint as code linter
- SonarQube as quality gate
- Docker as container management (incl. Docker Compose for multi-container application management)
- VirtualBox for operating system simulation tests
- Kubernetes as cluster management for docker containers
- Heroku for deploying in test environments
- nginx as web server (preferably used as facade server in production environment)
- SSLMate (using OpenSSL) for certificate management
- Amazon EC2 (incl. Amazon S3) for deploying in stage (production-like) and production environments
- PostgreSQL as preferred database system
- Redis as preferred in-memory database/store (great for caching)
The main reason we have chosen Kubernetes over Docker Swarm is related to the following artifacts:
- Key features: Easy and flexible installation, Clear dashboard, Great scaling operations, Monitoring is an integral part, Great load balancing concepts, Monitors the condition and ensures compensation in the event of failure.
- Applications: An application can be deployed using a combination of pods, deployments, and services (or micro-services).
- Functionality: Kubernetes as a complex installation and setup process, but it not as limited as Docker Swarm.
- Monitoring: It supports multiple versions of logging and monitoring when the services are deployed within the cluster (Elasticsearch/Kibana (ELK), Heapster/Grafana, Sysdig cloud integration).
- Scalability: All-in-one framework for distributed systems.
- Other Benefits: Kubernetes is backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), huge community among container orchestration tools, it is an open source and modular tool that works with any OS.
Pros of FaaS
- Simple way to build serverless applications1
Pros of Kubernetes
- Leading docker container management solution166
- Simple and powerful129
- Open source107
- Backed by google76
- The right abstractions58
- Scale services25
- Replication controller20
- Permission managment11
- Supports autoscaling9
- Simple8
- Cheap8
- Self-healing6
- Open, powerful, stable5
- Reliable5
- No cloud platform lock-in5
- Promotes modern/good infrascture practice5
- Scalable4
- Quick cloud setup4
- Custom and extensibility3
- Captain of Container Ship3
- Cloud Agnostic3
- Backed by Red Hat3
- Runs on azure3
- A self healing environment with rich metadata3
- Everything of CaaS2
- Gke2
- Golang2
- Easy setup2
- Expandable2
- Sfg2
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Cons of FaaS
Cons of Kubernetes
- Steep learning curve16
- Poor workflow for development15
- Orchestrates only infrastructure8
- High resource requirements for on-prem clusters4
- Too heavy for simple systems2
- Additional vendor lock-in (Docker)1
- More moving parts to secure1
- Additional Technology Overhead1