An overview of Lambda service provided by AWS

In this article, I explain in detail how to start using AWS Lambda for serverless applications. How to set up your first function, and how to connect it to other services. I rarely write step-by-step tutorials, most of my articles contain code with explanation, but I wanted to give it a try.

AWS Cloud

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is one of the biggest Clouds available on the internet. The Cloud is a collection of services that a Big Tech is allowing you to rent based on your use. Instead of spending millions on your own infrastructure, you can have access to computing power, networking services, analytics tools… for the cost of a few cents (if you are small), up to the cost of millions (if you are big and you are scaling).

Serverless Computing

When choosing to build a serverless application, instead of renting a server that has to run 24h to provide the backend of your application when the client connects, you allow the server to be activated only in case of need. When a client performs an action on your website, this triggers the function which can perform an algorithm of your choice (sending emails, gather or send data, authorizations): anything that you could not do directly in the frontend.

Choosing serverless rather than server-based computing will likely save you money, especially if you are small and not so many people are using your website, but you NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT. In the beginning, if you are used to coding everything in a flask or Django framework, you may find the notion of serverless quite confusing.

Start using Lambda

In this tutorial, these are the instruction you need to follow if you are new to AWS:

1. Access the AWS Console
2. Select Lambda
3. Create your first Function
4. Coding
5. Creating Trigger
6. Connecting with AWS API Gateway
7. Creating POST Method
8. Deployment
9. URL Testing

Code your function

#lambda #api-gateway #aws-lambda #serverless