Cloud Run is a fully managed compute platform developed by Google Cloud that enables you to run stateless containers accessible via web requests. It is built from Knative, letting you start from scratch or migrate from an existing Kubernetes-based system. Cloud Run abstracts away all infrastructure management, so you can focus on what matters most — building great applications.
Cloud Run automatically scales your application up and down to zero depending on your traffic. You only pay for the compute time you consume, making it a cost-effective solution for variable workloads. This glossary entry will delve into the intricate details of Cloud Run, its history, use cases, and specific examples.
Definition of Cloud Run
Cloud Run is a serverless platform provided by Google Cloud that enables developers to run their applications in a fully managed environment. It is designed to support stateless HTTP applications packaged in containers. Stateless applications are those that do not store data from one session to another but instead rely on clients to keep track of states.
Cloud Run is built on the open-source project Knative, which provides a set of middleware components for building modern, source-centric, and container-based applications that can run anywhere. This means that applications developed for Cloud Run can be easily ported to any cloud platform that supports Knative.
Key Features of Cloud Run
Cloud Run offers several key features that make it an attractive choice for developers. It automatically scales the number of containers based on incoming traffic, ensuring that your application can handle any amount of load. This auto-scaling feature extends to scaling down to zero when there's no traffic, which means you're not paying for idle resources.
Another key feature is its support for concurrent requests. Each container instance in Cloud Run can handle multiple requests at the same time, which can lead to more efficient use of resources. Additionally, Cloud Run supports automatic TLS and SSL encryption, providing secure connections for your applications.
Cloud Run vs. Other Google Cloud Services
Google Cloud offers several services for running applications, including App Engine, Compute Engine, and Kubernetes Engine. While these services offer more control and flexibility, they also require more management. Cloud Run stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, especially for developers who want to focus on their code rather than infrastructure management.
Unlike Compute Engine and Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Run does not require you to provision or manage servers. And while App Engine also offers a fully managed experience, it requires you to use specific runtimes and frameworks. In contrast, Cloud Run lets you use any language, library, or binary, as long as your application can be packaged in a container.
History of Cloud Run
Google Cloud introduced Cloud Run in April 2019 as part of its commitment to providing developers with open, flexible, and portable cloud technologies. The service was built on Knative, an open-source project started by Google to bring Kubernetes-based serverless capabilities to the cloud.
Since its launch, Cloud Run has seen several updates and improvements. For example, in November 2019, Google announced the general availability of Cloud Run, along with several new features like the ability to run containers on Google's gVisor sandbox environment for added security.
Cloud Run and Knative
Cloud Run is built on Knative, an open-source project that provides a set of middleware components for building modern, source-centric, and container-based applications that can run anywhere. Knative was started by Google and is now maintained by a community of contributors.
By building Cloud Run on Knative, Google ensured that applications developed for Cloud Run can be easily ported to any cloud platform that supports Knative. This gives developers more flexibility and avoids vendor lock-in, a common concern in the cloud industry.
Use Cases of Cloud Run
Cloud Run is a versatile platform that can be used for a wide range of applications. Its ability to automatically scale and support for stateless HTTP applications make it ideal for web applications, APIs, and mobile backends. It's also a great choice for microservices, as each service can be packaged in its own container and run independently.
Another common use case for Cloud Run is data processing. You can use it to run workloads that process data in real-time, like streaming analytics, or batch processing jobs that crunch large amounts of data. And because Cloud Run only charges for the compute time you use, it can be a cost-effective solution for these types of workloads.
Web Applications and APIs
Cloud Run is a great choice for running web applications and APIs. It supports any language or library that can run in a container, giving you the flexibility to use the tools you're most comfortable with. And because it automatically scales based on traffic, you don't have to worry about provisioning resources or managing servers.
For example, you could use Cloud Run to host a REST API for a mobile app. The API could be written in Node.js, packaged in a Docker container, and deployed to Cloud Run. The service would automatically scale to handle incoming traffic, and you would only pay for the compute time used to process the requests.
Data Processing
Cloud Run is also well-suited for data processing tasks. You can use it to run workloads that process data in real-time, like streaming analytics, or batch processing jobs that crunch large amounts of data. Because Cloud Run only charges for the compute time you use, it can be a cost-effective solution for these types of workloads.
For instance, you could use Cloud Run to process log data from your applications. The logs could be streamed to a Pub/Sub topic, which triggers a Cloud Run service to process the logs and write the results to a database. This setup would allow you to analyze your log data in real-time, without having to manage any servers.
Examples of Cloud Run
Many companies and developers are using Cloud Run to build and run their applications. These examples illustrate the versatility and power of Cloud Run.
Veolia, a global leader in optimized resource management, used Cloud Run to build a platform for real-time monitoring of waste collection. The platform uses IoT sensors on waste containers to monitor fill levels and optimize collection routes. Cloud Run processes the sensor data in real-time, enabling Veolia to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Veolia's Use Case
Veolia, a global leader in optimized resource management, used Cloud Run to build a platform for real-time monitoring of waste collection. The platform uses IoT sensors on waste containers to monitor fill levels and optimize collection routes. Cloud Run processes the sensor data in real-time, enabling Veolia to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
By using Cloud Run, Veolia was able to focus on developing their application instead of managing infrastructure. They also benefited from the automatic scaling of Cloud Run, which allowed them to handle large amounts of sensor data without having to provision resources manually.
Chatbot Application
Another example is a chatbot application developed by a software engineer. The chatbot uses natural language processing to understand user input and provide relevant responses. The engineer used Cloud Run to host the chatbot, taking advantage of its support for concurrent requests to handle multiple conversations at the same time.
By using Cloud Run, the engineer was able to deploy the chatbot quickly and easily, without having to manage any servers. The chatbot can also scale automatically to handle spikes in traffic, ensuring that users always receive fast, responsive service.
Conclusion
Cloud Run is a powerful, flexible platform for running applications in the cloud. Its support for stateless HTTP applications, automatic scaling, and fully managed environment make it an attractive choice for developers. Whether you're building a web application, an API, a data processing workload, or a microservice, Cloud Run can help you focus on your code and deliver great results.
As we've seen from the examples of Veolia and the chatbot application, Cloud Run can be used in a wide range of scenarios. Its versatility, combined with its ease of use and cost-effectiveness, make it a compelling choice for many developers. So whether you're a seasoned cloud professional or just getting started with cloud computing, Cloud Run is definitely worth considering.