What is our primary use case?
AWS Lambda is mainly used for automation. To simplify, in AWS Lambda, I define a function, and I can invoke that function or feature whenever I want and on schedule.
For example, if I have data to collect daily from different services, I schedule the AWS Lambda function to do that, and it does the job. That's one of the use cases of the tool.
Another use case for AWS Lambda is when you have multiple servers running and need to shut down the servers at night. You can configure an AWS Lambda function that would shut down the servers every night on schedule. You can also use it as a backend and invoke it through API, so you deploy your backend from an AWS Lambda function, then link it with the API gateway, then you can invoke your function through the API.
What is most valuable?
What I like best about AWS Lambda is that it's feature-rich, and I appreciate that. I also like that it's stable and supports many languages.
What needs improvement?
What could be improved in AWS Lambda is a tricky question because I base the area for improvement on a specific matrix, for example, latency, so I'm still determining if I can be the judge on that. However, room for improvement could be when you're using AWS Lambda as a backend, it can be challenging to use it for monitoring. Monitoring is critical in development, and I don't have much expertise in the area, but you can use other services such as Xray. I found that monitoring on AWS Lambda is a challenge. The tool needs better monitoring.
Another area for improvement in AWS Lambda is the cold start, where it takes some time to invoke a function the first time, but after that, invoking it becomes swift. Still, there's room for improvement in that AWS Lambda process.
In the next release of AWS Lambda, I'd like AWS to improve monitoring so that I can monitor codes better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using AWS Lambda for one year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
AWS Lambda is a stable product.
How are customer service and support?
I have yet to contact the AWS Lambda technical support team because I haven't experienced any difficulty with the tool.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
One of the reasons my company went with AWS Lambda is that it's serverless, so you don't need to manage any server because AWS will handle it. This means that a lot of responsibilities will be taken care of by AWS, which helps you avoid many problems.
Another reason for choosing AWS Lambda is its stability. Latency is also not a problem on AWS Lambda, allowing you to use different services in your AWS account securely. For example, when you want to reach the AWS billing service, you can do it within the environment of your AWS account without an external tool, which makes it very secure. AWS Lambda also helps you reach other AWS accounts securely because it depends on roles rather than search keys or passwords.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for AWS Lambda is straightforward. It's effortless to start using AWS Lambda.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Price-wise, AWS Lambda is very cheap. It's not free, but it's not that expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I'm using the latest version of AWS Lambda because when a framework or tool is deployed on a public cloud, it's always the newest version, and you don't get to choose the version.
I'd tell first-time users of AWS Lambda, or anyone looking into using the tool, that you can deploy every application within AWS Lambda, and it's very easy to set up and deploy. You can also use it with any application regardless of language because AWS Lambda supports many languages such as Go, Bison, Node, GS, and .NET. The tool is very code-agnostic, and not coded with programming languages, so you can still use Docker images to start your AWS Lambda function, for example.
My rating for AWS Lambda is nine out of ten because of how hard AWS worked on having good latency, security, and an intuitive start. The tool supports different languages and is stable, so I gave it a high rating.
I'm a customer of AWS Lambda.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.