awesome-kubernetes/v2-docs/serverless.md

# Serverless Architectures and Frameworks

!!! info "Architectural Context"
    Detailed reference for Serverless Architectures and Frameworks in the context of The Container Stack.

## Standard Reference

  - [redhat.com: What is knative?](https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/microservices/what-is-knative)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [developers.redhat.com: Serverless Architecture](https://developers.redhat.com/topics/serverless-architecture)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [Docker for LLMs](https://www.docker.com/llm)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [martinfowler.com: Serverless Architectures](https://martinfowler.com/articles/serverless.html)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [itnext.io: Scaling My App: Serverless vs Kubernetes 🌟](https://itnext.io/scaling-my-app-serverless-vs-kubernetes-cdb8adf446e1)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [Is Serverless The End Of Kubernetes?](https://towardsdatascience.com/kubernetes-serverless-differences-84699f370609)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [freecodecamp.org: Serverless is cheaper, not simpler](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/serverless-is-cheaper-not-simpler-a10c4fc30e49)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [medium: What a typical 100% Serverless Architecture looks like in AWS!](https://medium.com/serverless-transformation/what-a-typical-100-serverless-architecture-looks-like-in-aws-40f252cd0ecb)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverless.com: Why we switched from docker to serverless](https://www.serverless.com/blog/why-we-switched-from-docker-to-serverless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [developers.redhat.com: Orchestrate event-driven, distributed services with' Serverless Workflow and Kubernetes](https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2020/11/26/event-driven-distributed-service-orchestration-with-serverless-workflow)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dzone: Implementing Serverless Microservices Architecture on AWS](https://dzone.com/articles/implementing-serverless-microservices-architecture)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [docs.google.com: Serverless Guide to Success 2021](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1VEkUvTbqxfC1XyVGb2Z3DtEk9NA1M6PJpeCqEYRATLM/mobilebasic)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [vimal-dwarampudi.medium.com: Serverless Architecture design on major clouds](https://vimal-dwarampudi.medium.com/serverless-architecture-design-on-major-clouds-8c53c2aa62d2)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dzone: When to Use Serverless, and When to Use Kubernetes 🌟](https://dzone.com/articles/when-to-use-serverless-when-to-use-kubernetes)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [itnext.io: Kubernetes Serverless simply visually explained 🌟](https://itnext.io/kubernetes-serverless-simply-visually-explained-ccf7be05a689)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [readysetcloud.io: Building Serverless Applications That Scale The Perfect' Amount 🌟](https://www.readysetcloud.io/blog/allen.helton/how-to-design-serverless-apps-that-scale-the-perfect-amount)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [jeromevdl.medium.com: When to use a Lambda function, and when not? 🌟](https://jeromevdl.medium.com/when-to-use-a-lambda-function-and-when-not-9a225e6dd2dd)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [c-sharpcorner.com: Why and When to use Azure Functions](https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/why-and-when-to-use-azure-functions)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dzone: When to Use Logic Apps and Azure Functions](https://dzone.com/articles/when-to-use-logic-apps-and-azure-functions)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverlessland.com/event-driven-architecture: Introduction to Event Driven' Architecture 🌟](https://serverlessland.com/event-driven-architecture)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [medium.com/@marinradjenovic: Why do you still need to think of scalability' when architecting Serverless apps?](https://medium.com/@marinradjenovic/why-do-you-still-need-to-think-of-scalability-when-architecting-serverless-apps-a2e1f14e3eca)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [architectelevator.com: Concerned about Serverless Lock-in? Consider Patterns!](https://architectelevator.com/cloud/serverless-design-patterns)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverlessland.com: EDA VISUALS](https://serverlessland.com/event-driven-architecture/visuals)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverlessland.com: BATCH PROCESSING VS EVENT STREAMING](https://serverlessland.com/event-driven-architecture/visuals/batching-vs-event-streams)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverlessland.com: Splitter pattern](https://serverlessland.com/event-driven-architecture/visuals/splitter-pattern)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dev.to: Serverless - Beyond the Basics | Kristi Perreault 🌟](https://dev.to/aws-heroes/serverless-beyond-the-basics-kom)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [theburningmonk.com: Why you should use ephemeral environments when you do' serverless](https://theburningmonk.com/2019/09/why-you-should-use-temporary-stacks-when-you-do-serverless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverlesshorrors.com](https://serverlesshorrors.com)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [theburningmonk.com: Making Terraform and Serverless framework work together](https://theburningmonk.com/2019/03/making-terraform-and-serverless-framework-work-together)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [betterprogramming.pub: Going Serverless? Governance Is Everything](https://betterprogramming.pub/going-serverless-governance-is-everything-c70589c9cee9)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [fathomtech.io: Microservices vs. Serverless](https://fathomtech.io/blog/microservices-vs-serverless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [cloudnowtech.com: Kubernetes vs Serverless – How do you choose? 🌟](https://www.cloudnowtech.com/blog/kubernetes-vs-serverless-how-do-you-choose)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [economictimes.indiatimes.com: Thoughtworks XConf Tech Talk Series: Serverless' vs. Kubernetes when deploying microservices](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/thoughtworks-xconf-tech-talk-series-serverless-vs-kubernetes-when-deploying-microservices/articleshow/89085544.cms)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [oliverjumpertz.medium.com: Serverless vs. Kubernetes](https://oliverjumpertz.medium.com/serverless-vs-kubernetes-58b0b387dc98)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [thenewstack.io: Serverless vs. Kubernetes: The People’s Vote](https://thenewstack.io/serverless-vs-kubernetes-the-peoples-vote)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dashbird.io: Serverless Case Study – Coca-Cola](https://dashbird.io/blog/serverless-case-study-coca-cola)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [thenewstack.io: How Daily.Dev Built a Low-Budget Serverless Scraping Pipeline' for Online Articles](https://thenewstack.io/how-daily-dev-built-a-low-budget-serverless-scraping-pipeline-for-online-articles)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [wikipedia: FaaS Function as a Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_as_a_service)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [redhat.com: What is Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)?](https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/cloud-native-apps/what-is-faas)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [stackify.com: What Is Function-as-a-Service? Serverless Architectures Are' Here!](https://stackify.com/function-as-a-service-serverless-architecture)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dev.to: FaaS on Kubernetes: From AWS Lambda & API Gateway To Knative &' Kong API Gateway](https://dev.to/pmbanugo/faas-on-kubernetes-from-aws-lambda-api-gateway-to-knative-kong-api-gateway-4n84)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [fauna.com: How does FaaS compare to PaaS and CaaS. A Comparison of Serverless' Function (FaaS) Providers](https://fauna.com/blog/comparison-faas-providers)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [techbeacon.com: An essential guide to the 2019 serverless ecosystem](https://techbeacon.com/enterprise-it/essential-guide-2019-serverless-ecosystem)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [vshn.ch: A (Very!) Quick Comparison of Kubernetes Serverless Frameworks](https://www.vshn.ch/en/blog/a-very-quick-comparison-of-kubernetes-serverless-frameworks)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [serverless.com: Serverless Framework](https://www.serverless.com)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [Azure Functions Cost Considerations and Optimization](https://build5nines.com/azure-functions-cost-considerations-and-optimization)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [epsagon.com: Serverless Open-Source Frameworks: **OpenFaaS**, **Knative**,' & More 🌟](https://epsagon.com/blog/serverless-open-source-frameworks-openfaas-knative-more)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [OpenFaaS](https://www.openfaas.com)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [itnext.io: Deploy your first Serverless Function to Kubernetes](https://itnext.io/deploy-your-first-serverless-function-to-kubernetes-232307f7b0a9)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [magalix.com: Implementing FaaS in Kubernetes Using Kubeless](https://www.magalix.com/blog/implementing-faas-in-kubernetes-using-kubeless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [itnext.io: **arkade** by example — Kubernetes apps, the easy way 🌟](https://itnext.io/kubernetes-apps-the-easy-way-f06d9e5cad3c)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [openfaas.com: Learn how to build functions faster using Rancher's kim and' K3s](https://www.openfaas.com/blog/kim)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [OpenFunction: Cloud Native Function-as-a-Service Platform (CNCF Sandbox' Project)](https://github.com/OpenFunction/OpenFunction) <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>⭐ 1656</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [knative.dev](https://knative.dev)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [kn: knative client](https://github.com/knative/client) <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>⭐ 384</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [developers.redhat.com: Build and deploy a serverless app with Camel K and' Red Hat OpenShift Serverless 1.5.0 Tech Preview](https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2020/04/24/build-and-deploy-a-serverless-app-with-camel-k-and-red-hat-openshift-serverless-1-5-0-tech-preview)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [redhat-scholars.github.io: Welcome to OpenShift Serverless Logic Tutorial](https://redhat-scholars.github.io/serverless-workflow/osl/index.html)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [kubeless.io](https://kubeless.io)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [medium.com: Serverless - Build a Serverless Simple Flask Application with' Kubeless on top of Kubernetes](https://medium.com/@peiruwang/serverless-build-a-serverless-simple-flask-application-with-kubeless-on-top-of-kubernetes-95c6682c3750)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [openwhisk.apache.org](https://openwhisk.apache.org)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [developers.redhat.com: Build and deploy microservices with Kubernetes and' Dapr](https://developers.redhat.com/articles/2021/08/12/build-and-deploy-microservices-kubernetes-and-dapr)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [dev.to: Running Dapr on Kubernetes](https://dev.to/cvitaa11/running-dapr-on-kubernetes-89g)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [github.com/diagrid-labs/dapr-workflow-demos](https://github.com/diagrid-labs/dapr-workflow-demos) <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>⭐ 62</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [headleysj.medium.com: Building event-driven systems at scale in Kubernetes' with Dapr — Part II: How does Dapr work?](https://headleysj.medium.com/building-event-driven-systems-at-scale-in-kubernetes-with-dapr-part-2-how-does-dapr-work-732ba7a0d652)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [thenewstack.io: Build a Serverless API with AWS Gateway and Lambda](https://thenewstack.io/build-a-serverless-api-with-aws-gateway-and-lambda)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [TriggerMesh](https://www.triggermesh.com)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>
  - [thenewstack.io: TriggerMesh: Open Sourcing Event-Driven Applications](https://thenewstack.io/triggermesh-open-sourcing-event-driven-applications)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span>

## Architecture

### Microservices

#### Distributed Application Runtime

  - [dapr.io](https://dapr.io) <span class='md-tag md-tag--critical'>[ADVANCED LEVEL]</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--success'>[DE FACTO STANDARD]</span> — Curator Insight presents Dapr as a portable, event-driven runtime that simplifies building resilient, distributed microservices. Live Grounding highlights its widespread enterprise adoption as a CNCF incubated project, offering sidecar APIs for state management, pub/sub, and service invocation across any cloud.
## Cloud Architecture

### Enterprise Adoption

#### Serverless

  - **(2022)** [serverlessguru.com: Enterprise Serverless Adoption 🌟](https://www.sls.guru/blog/enterprise-serverless-adoption)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — An analysis of the architectural and organizational strategies required for enterprise-scale serverless adoption. Discusses shift-left operations, cost optimization models, and how large organizations navigate migration paths from traditional monolithic or containerized infrastructures to fully managed event-driven serverless architectures.
### Paradigm Comparison

#### Containers vs Serverless

  - **(2021)** [acloudguru.com: Containers vs serverless: Which is right for you?](https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/cloud/containers-vs-serverless-which-is-right-for-you)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Synthesizes key technical differences between containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and serverless hosting models (AWS Lambda, Cloud Run). Compares execution lifecycles, scaling characteristics, operational overhead, and pricing structures to help system architects select the optimal deployment paradigm based on workload patterns.
#### Serverless vs Containers

  - **(2020)** [theregister.com: Microservices guru says think serverless, not Kubernetes: You don't want to manage 'a towering edifice of stuff'](https://www.theregister.com/software/2020/09/22/microservices-guru-says-think-serverless-not-kubernetes-you-dont-want-to-manage-a-towering-edifice-of-stuff/353334)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Evaluates the architectural trade-offs between Kubernetes container orchestration and serverless computing. Highlights arguments from industry experts advocating for serverless paradigms to bypass the high operational complexity, steep learning curve, and management overhead associated with maintaining a bespoke Kubernetes control plane.
### Serverless (1)

#### Cost Analysis

  - **(2021)** [dev.to: Price Comparison of Popular Serverless Architecture Providers](https://dev.to/d1020/price-comparison-of-popular-serverless-architecture-providers-2jk9)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Provides a detailed financial breakdown and comparative matrix of major serverless execution environments, including AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions. Evaluates cost implications based on invocation count, execution duration, memory allocation, and data transfer rates under varying traffic scenarios.
## Cloud Native

### Application Runtime

#### Dapr

  - **(2022)** [Building microservices? Give Dapr a try](https://www.infoworld.com/article/2261795/building-microservices-give-dapr-a-try.html)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Introduces the Distributed Application Runtime (Dapr), an event-driven, portable runtime that simplifies microservices development through a sidecar architecture. Standardizes crucial distributed systems building blocks like state management, service-to-service invocation, pub/sub messaging, and observability using language-agnostic HTTP and gRPC APIs.
  - **(2021)** [versusmind.eu: Dapr - a serverless runtime for distributed applications 🌟](https://versusmind.eu/dapr-a-serverless-runtime-for-distributed-applications)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Exploratory analysis of Dapr (Distributed Application Runtime) as an enabling runtime for distributed cloud-native architecture. Details how its sidecar model abstracts infrastructure dependencies (e.g., Redis, Kafka, Azure Cosmos DB) from developer code, reducing technical debt and enabling rapid, portable microservice deployments.
### Kubernetes

#### Knative

  - **(2020)** [datacenterknowledge.com: Explaining Knative, the Project to Liberate Serverless from Cloud Giants](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/servers/explaining-knative-the-project-to-liberate-serverless-from-cloud-giants)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Decodes Knative's role in standardizing cloud-native serverless workloads on Kubernetes. Discusses how Knative Serving manages scale-to-zero execution and how Knative Eventing builds declarative event-driven systems, effectively preventing vendor lock-in by providing a common abstract layer over diverse cloud infrastructures.
#### Serverless Frameworks

  - **(2020)** [winderresearch.com: A Comparison of Serverless Frameworks for Kubernetes: OpenFaas, OpenWhisk, Fission, Kubeless and more](https://winder.ai/a-comparison-of-serverless-frameworks-for-kubernetes-openfaas-openwhisk-fission-kubeless-and-more) <span class='md-tag md-tag--critical'>[ADVANCED LEVEL]</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[LEGACY]</span> — Architectural review of open-source serverless frameworks built on Kubernetes, specifically comparing OpenFaaS, Apache OpenWhisk, Fission, and the now-deprecated Kubeless. Examines their design philosophies, scaling mechanisms (cold starts vs. pre-warmed pods), event routing backends, and developer experiences.
### Serverless Frameworks (1)

#### OpenFaaS

  - **(2021)** [xenonstack.com: Serverless Architecture with OpenFaaS and Java](https://www.xenonstack.com/blog/serverless-open-faas-java) <span class='md-tag md-tag--warning'>[JAVA CONTENT]</span> <span class='md-tag md-tag--primary'>[GUIDE]</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> <span class='md-tag md-tag--secondary'>[GUIDE]</span> — Practical implementation guide for designing and deploying Java-based microservices using OpenFaaS on Kubernetes. Outlines the building of lightweight Docker images, optimizing Java virtual machine (JVM) cold-start times within a serverless container environment, and leveraging Prometheus for auto-scaling based on request metrics.
## Enterprise Kubernetes

### OpenShift

#### Serverless (2)

  - **(2024)** [OpenShift Serverless](https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/serverless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Product page outlining Red Hat OpenShift Serverless, which abstracts container execution using Knative. Provides developers with seamless scale-to-zero features, event-driven integration with Apache Kafka, and simplified deployment models that align cloud-native serverless architectures with enterprise security and governance policies.
  - **(2021)** [openshift.com: Why and When you need to consider OpenShift Serverless](https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/why-and-when-you-need-to-consider-openshift-serverless)  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Strategic framework outlining decision criteria for adopting OpenShift Serverless. Compares operational requirements, resource footprint optimization, and workload types (such as batch processors, scheduled tasks, and event-driven APIs) where scale-to-zero behaviors offer significant infrastructure cost savings over constantly running daemon pods.
## Software Architecture

### Cloud Patterns

#### Serverless (3)

  - [ServerlessHorrors: A Web Compiling Nightmares in the Serverless World](https://revistacloud.com/serverlesshorrors-la-web-que-recoge-las-peores-pesadillas-del-mundo-serverless) <span class='md-tag md-tag--warning'>[SPANISH CONTENT]</span>  <span class='md-tag md-tag--info'>[COMMUNITY-TOOL]</span> — Un compendio técnico sobre los errores más comunes y costosos en el diseño de arquitecturas serverless. Ofrece un análisis crítico de fallos reales de concurrencia, inicios en frío ("cold starts"), costos fuera de control e integración de servicios, sirviendo como guía de advertencia para diseñadores de sistemas distribuidos. [SPANISH CONTENT]

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💡 **Explore Related:** [OCP 3](./ocp3.md) | [OCP 4](./ocp4.md) | [Kubernetes Operators Controllers](./kubernetes-operators-controllers.md)