OpenFaaS, short for Open Function as a Service, is a framework that allows developers to build, ship, and run serverless functions in containers. It is an open-source project that provides a platform for building serverless applications with a simple, developer-friendly interface. OpenFaaS leverages the power of containerization and orchestration to provide a scalable, reliable, and efficient platform for running serverless applications.
OpenFaaS is built on top of Docker and Kubernetes, two of the most popular technologies in the world of containerization and orchestration. This means that it can take advantage of the robustness, scalability, and flexibility that these technologies offer. In this glossary entry, we will delve deep into the world of OpenFaaS, its relationship with containerization and orchestration, and how it is used in the real world.
Definition of OpenFaaS
OpenFaaS is a platform that allows developers to build and deploy serverless functions in containers. It provides a simple, developer-friendly interface for building and deploying these functions, abstracting away much of the complexity associated with managing containers and orchestrating their deployment.
OpenFaaS is built on top of Docker and Kubernetes, which means it can take advantage of the robustness, scalability, and flexibility that these technologies offer. It also means that OpenFaaS can run on any platform that supports Docker and Kubernetes, making it a highly portable solution for running serverless applications.
OpenFaaS as a Serverless Platform
OpenFaaS is often referred to as a serverless platform. This is because it allows developers to build and deploy functions without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. The platform takes care of all the infrastructure management tasks, such as scaling, routing, and monitoring, allowing developers to focus on writing code.
However, it's important to note that "serverless" doesn't mean there are no servers involved. Rather, it means that the servers are abstracted away from the developer. In the case of OpenFaaS, the servers are actually Docker containers that are orchestrated by Kubernetes.
OpenFaaS and Containers
OpenFaaS uses containers as the underlying technology for running functions. A container is a lightweight, standalone, executable package that includes everything needed to run a piece of software, including the code, a runtime, system tools, system libraries, and settings.
Containers are isolated from each other and bundle their own software, libraries and configuration files; they can communicate with each other through well-defined channels. In the context of OpenFaaS, each function runs in its own container, which provides isolation and allows for easy scaling and deployment.
Explanation of OpenFaaS Architecture
OpenFaaS has a modular and extensible architecture that is built around a few key components. These components work together to provide a robust, scalable, and efficient platform for running serverless applications.
The main components of OpenFaaS are the Gateway, the Function Watchdog, the Provider, and the CLI. Each of these components plays a crucial role in the functioning of the platform.
The Gateway
The Gateway is the main entry point into the OpenFaaS system. It provides a RESTful API and a web-based user interface for managing functions. The Gateway is responsible for routing requests to the appropriate functions, managing function deployments, and providing metrics and health checks.
The Gateway also integrates with the Provider to handle function scaling. It uses a built-in auto-scaling policy to automatically scale functions up and down based on demand.
The Function Watchdog
The Function Watchdog is a small piece of software that is included in every function container. It is responsible for turning HTTP requests into function calls and function responses into HTTP responses.
The Function Watchdog also provides a health check endpoint for the function, which allows the Gateway to monitor the health of the function and take appropriate action if the function becomes unhealthy.
History of OpenFaaS
OpenFaaS was created by Alex Ellis, a Senior Developer Advocate at VMware, in 2016. It started as a personal project, but quickly gained popularity and became a community-driven open source project.
Since its inception, OpenFaaS has received contributions from hundreds of developers around the world and has been adopted by many organizations for running serverless applications. It has also won several awards for its innovative approach to serverless computing.
OpenFaaS and the Serverless Movement
The creation of OpenFaaS coincided with the rise of the serverless movement, which advocates for the development of applications that do not require server management. This movement was driven by the increasing complexity of managing servers and the desire for more efficient and scalable solutions.
OpenFaaS was one of the first platforms to bring the serverless paradigm to containers, making it a pioneer in the field. Its success has helped to validate the serverless approach and has paved the way for other serverless platforms.
Use Cases of OpenFaaS
OpenFaaS is used in a wide range of scenarios, from small personal projects to large-scale enterprise applications. Its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use make it a popular choice for many different types of applications.
Some of the most common use cases for OpenFaaS include microservices, data processing, and IoT applications. However, it can be used for any application that can be broken down into functions and can benefit from the scalability and efficiency of serverless computing.
Microservices with OpenFaaS
Microservices are a popular architectural style for building applications. They involve breaking down an application into small, independent services that communicate with each other through APIs. OpenFaaS is a natural fit for this architectural style, as it allows each service to be packaged as a function and run in its own container.
Using OpenFaaS for microservices has several advantages. It allows for easy scaling of individual services, it simplifies deployment and management, and it provides isolation between services, which can improve reliability and security.
Data Processing with OpenFaaS
OpenFaaS is also commonly used for data processing tasks. These tasks often involve processing large amounts of data in parallel, which is a perfect fit for the scalability of OpenFaaS.
With OpenFaaS, each data processing task can be packaged as a function and run in its own container. This allows for easy parallelization of tasks and provides a simple, scalable solution for data processing.
Examples of OpenFaaS
There are many examples of OpenFaaS being used in the real world. These examples demonstrate the power and flexibility of the platform and provide inspiration for what can be achieved with OpenFaaS.
One example is Vision Banco, a bank in Paraguay, which uses OpenFaaS to process images of checks. The bank has a function that takes an image of a check, extracts the relevant information, and stores it in a database. This function is triggered whenever a new image is uploaded to a specific location.
OpenFaaS in IoT Applications
OpenFaaS is also used in IoT applications. For example, a company called Containous uses OpenFaaS to process data from IoT devices. They have a function that takes data from a device, processes it, and sends it to a database. This function is triggered whenever new data is received from a device.
These examples show how OpenFaaS can be used to build scalable, efficient, and reliable applications. They demonstrate the power of the serverless paradigm and the benefits of containerization and orchestration.
Conclusion
OpenFaaS is a powerful platform for building and running serverless applications. It leverages the power of containerization and orchestration to provide a scalable, reliable, and efficient platform for running serverless applications. Whether you're building microservices, processing data, or working with IoT devices, OpenFaaS provides a simple, developer-friendly solution.
With its open-source nature and active community, OpenFaaS continues to evolve and improve, making it an exciting platform to watch in the world of serverless computing.