Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - What's new with serverless (SVS204)

Summary

• Dave Boyne, a senior developer advocate at AWS, presented the latest serverless features and services introduced in 2022.
• Lambda URLs were introduced, allowing direct HTTP client-to-Lambda function communication without extra resources.
• Lambda Snap Start for Java runtimes dramatically reduces cold start times by creating a snapshot of the execution environment.
• Telemetry API extends the Logs API, providing platform traces and new performance metrics.
• Lambda Storage increased to 10 GB for processing larger files.
• AWS Lambda Power Tools expanded to include.NET and TypeScript, with a significant increase in usage.
• Step Functions introduced intrinsic functions, observability features, and a new distributed map feature for processing large amounts of data.
• EventBridge now supports inbound webhooks, Salesforce integration, EventBridge Pipes for direct service-to-service communication, and EventBridge Scheduler for creating scalable schedules.
• Serverless Application Model (SAM) went GA with SAM Accelerate, introduced serverless connectors for easier policy management, added ES build support for TypeScript, and previewed Terraform support.
• Resources for learning and keeping up with serverless developments were shared, including Serverless Land, serverless office hours, and a new serverless learning platform.

Insights

• Serverless Evolution: The serverless landscape at AWS is rapidly evolving, with a focus on reducing complexity, improving performance, and expanding integration capabilities.
• Developer Experience: AWS is prioritizing the developer experience by introducing features like Lambda URLs and SAM Accelerate, which streamline the development process and provide faster feedback loops.
• Performance Optimization: With Lambda Snap Start, AWS addresses the cold start issue, particularly for Java runtimes, indicating a commitment to optimizing serverless performance.
• Observability and Monitoring: The Telemetry API and Step Functions' new observability features show AWS's emphasis on providing developers with better tools for monitoring and debugging serverless applications.
• Large-Scale Data Processing: The introduction of Lambda Storage expansion, Step Functions Distributed Map, and EventBridge Scheduler demonstrates AWS's focus on enabling serverless solutions to handle large-scale data processing tasks.
• Integration and Event-Driven Architectures: EventBridge's new features, including Pipes and direct Salesforce integration, highlight AWS's vision for seamless integration and the growing importance of event-driven architectures.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): SAM's support for Terraform and serverless connectors indicates AWS's recognition of the importance of IaC and the need to support a variety of tools and workflows preferred by developers.
• Community and Open Source: AWS Lambda Power Tools' growth and the call for community feedback on SAM suggest AWS's commitment to community-driven development and open-source collaboration.
• Education and Resources: The launch of a new serverless learning platform and the mention of various educational resources underscore AWS's effort to educate and empower developers to build serverless applications effectively.