PaaS vs Serverless

Cloud as-a-service models like Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Functions as a Service (FaaS), often referred to as serverless computing, abstract away the backend infrastructure management, allowing developers to focus on building and deploying applications without the burden of provisioning and managing servers. Both of these options present distinct advantages depending on a business’s specific use case and requirements.

For example, a developer working on a new web application might need the app to handle user authentication, store user data, and process payments. Initially, the developer considers using a fully managed platform for convenience and reducing the server burden. However, the application only intermittently performs tasks like processing payments or sending email notifications. For these tasks, a serverless approach might be more efficient and cost-effective, as they would only pay for the compute resources used. The developer must choose between the convenience of PaaS and the scalability and cost-efficiency of serverless.

In this blog post, we will explore the similarities and differences between PaaS and serverless computing and discuss the factors to consider when deciding which to choose.

Summary

1. PaaS offers a cloud environment with necessary hardware and software tools for application development, managed by the cloud provider. Serverless or FaaS, allows developers to focus on code, with the cloud provider managing resource allocation and server provisioning.

2. PaaS requires users to manage scaling settings and charges based on provisioned resources, offering extensive tools for development and deployment. Serverless automatically scales resources, charges based on actual usage, and focuses on code execution without requiring users to manage the infrastructure.

3. DigitalOcean App Platform simplifies application deployment and scaling with pre-configured stacks and automated management. DigitalOcean Functions provides a serverless platform that scales automatically and charges on a pay-per-use basis, ideal for event-driven architectures.

What is PaaS?

In PaaS, a cloud provider delivers hardware and software tools, usually those needed for application development, to users over the internet. In a PaaS model, the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, such as virtualization, servers, operating systems, databases, and networking, so that the user focuses on deploying and managing their applications.

What is Serverless?

Serverless architecture, or simply “serverless,” is a cloud computing execution model where the cloud provider dynamically manages the allocation and provisioning of servers and resources. In a serverless architecture, developers focus on building and deploying their application code, while the cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure and automatically scales resources as needed.

Key differences between PaaS and Serverless architectures

While both PaaS and Serverless aim to abstract away infrastructure management, some key differences exist in their underlying architectures and how they operate. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision when choosing between the two approaches for your application.

Key factors in deciding PaaS vs Serverless

When choosing between PaaS and Serverless, consider the application’s complexity, usage patterns, and development needs. PaaS offers more control and tools for complex applications with stable usage, while Serverless provides simplicity for event-driven tasks with variable usage. Understanding these factors helps in selecting the right architecture for your application.

1. Application complexity

Determine the degree of complexity and the architectural design requirements for your application. For example, a startup building a health and fitness tracking app requires data storage for user activities, integration with wearable devices, and personalized workout recommendations. PaaS simplifies deployment and scaling, allowing the team to concentrate on improving app functionalities and user engagement.

In contrast, a simple web application with straightforward functionality and well-defined boundaries may best suit an event-driven approach.

2. Application processing nature

Decide whether your application requires stateful or stateless processing. Stateful applications such as e-commerce shopping carts, user profiles, and real-time collaboration tools maintain persistent data or session information that needs to be preserved across multiple requests or transactions. These applications require more complex infrastructure and data management to ensure the integrity and availability of the stored state.

On the other hand, stateless applications such as API gateways and static content delivery process each request independently, without the need to store or retrieve persistent data. These applications can be more easily scaled and distributed, as they don’t require the same level of state management.

3. Performance and latency

Chart your application’s performance requirements and latency sensitivity. For example, a real-time trading platform or a multiplayer gaming application would require PaaS’s feature of extremely low latency and high-performance processing to deliver a user experience.

On the other hand, applications with less stringent performance and latency requirements, such as batch processing jobs or asynchronous data processing tasks, may benefit more from the scalability and automatic provisioning of a serverless environment.

4. Cost and scalability

Analyze your application’s expected usage patterns and scaling requirements. If your application has predictable, constant usage patterns, PaaS may be more cost-effective, as you can optimize resource allocation and potentially get better pricing through reserved instances or committed use discounts.

If your application has highly variable or spiky usage patterns, serverless can be a better choice, as it automatically scales resources up and down based on demand, and you only pay for the resources you actually use.

Elevate your application’s performance with DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean offers both PaaS and serverless solutions, allowing developers to choose the approach that best suits their application’s requirements and their team’s preferences.

Simplifying infrastructure management with DigitalOcean PaaS

DigitalOcean App Platform empowers developers to focus on building their applications without the hassle of managing the underlying infrastructure. With App Platform, you can:

• Easily deploy and scale your applications across multiple regions with just a few clicks.

• Use pre-configured application stacks and runtimes to accelerate your development process.

• Automate your application’s deployment and management by integrating your favorite DevOps tools.

• Maintain control over your application’s security, access management, and compliance requirements.

Optimize your application’s scalability with DigitalOcean Serverless functions

For developers seeking a more event-driven, serverless approach, DigitalOcean Functions provides a powerful and cost-effective solution. With DigitalOcean Functions, you can:

• Run your application code in response to events without the need to manage any servers or infrastructure.

• Scale your application automatically based on the incoming workload, ensuring optimal performance.

• Benefit from pay-per-use pricing, making it an ideal choice for applications with variable or intermittent usage patterns.

• Integrate your Serverless functions with other DigitalOcean products to build strong, event-driven architectures.

Whether you choose DigitalOcean App Platform or DigitalOcean Functions, you can trust that your applications will be backed by DigitalOcean’s reliable infrastructure, comprehensive security practices, and 24/7 customer support.

Sign up with DigitalOcean today!