Examples of Serverless Applications Explained

Q: Can you provide an example of a serverless application you have built in the past? Can you walk me through the architecture and code?

  • Serverless
  • Junior level question
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Serverless architecture has gained immense popularity in recent years as businesses aim to reduce costs and streamline their operations. When preparing for technical interviews, understanding this paradigm can set you apart. Serverless applications allow developers to build and deploy applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.

This model enables automatic scaling and provides developers the flexibility to focus on writing code rather than worrying about server management. A key aspect of serverless computing is its event-driven nature, where functions are executed in response to specific events, such as user actions or scheduled tasks. This makes serverless applications ideal for a multitude of scenarios, including API backends, data processing pipelines, and microservices architectures. Some popular platforms supporting serverless architecture include AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions, making it crucial for candidates to familiarize themselves with these tools. When reflecting on your past projects, consider how you've architected these applications.

Discussing your design choices can reveal your proficiency in cloud services, as well as your understanding of service limitations and potential pitfalls. Candidates should be ready to elaborate not just on the functionality of their projects but also on their integration with databases, authentication services, and third-party APIs. This depth of knowledge indicates a comprehensive grasp of how serverless solutions can interact with various components. Moreover, understanding the cost implications of serverless architectures, such as pay-as-you-go pricing models and how usage patterns can impact total costs, can significantly enhance your profile during interviews.

Engaging in discussions about scalability, fault tolerance, and security practices within serverless environments can further demonstrate your expertise. In summary, embracing serverless technology in your development process allows for more agile application building, optimal resource management, and a focus on innovation. Preparing real-life examples and discussing your architecture choices can give you an edge in technical interviews..

Consider a web application that allows users to upload images and generate thumbnails of those images. Here's how this application could be built using a serverless architecture:

  • The frontend of the application is built using a static site generator, such as Jekyll or Hugo, and hosted on a content delivery network (CDN) such as AWS CloudFront or Cloudflare. The frontend allows users to select and upload images.
  • The uploaded images are then stored in an object storage service such as AWS S3.
  • Whenever a new image is uploaded, an event is triggered in the object storage service.
  • The event triggers a serverless function, written in a language such as Node.js or Python, that generates a thumbnail of the uploaded image.
  • The serverless function then stores the generated thumbnail in the object storage service.
  • Finally, the frontend of the application retrieves the thumbnail from the object storage service and displays it to the user.

This architecture is highly scalable and cost-effective since the serverless function only runs when an event is triggered, and the application can handle a large number of image uploads without the need for expensive server infrastructure. Additionally, the use of object storage and CDN services ensures that the application is highly available and can handle a large number of concurrent users.