A Guide to Kubeless for Effortless Application Development

Kubeless - Kubernetes Native Serverless Framework

A serverless framework is computing used to build and run applications and services without considering the servers. In this computing, there is the abstraction of server infrastructure and Operating Systems. You don't need to provision and manage servers to build serverless apps. It allows focusing from the server level to the task level.

Kubernetes Architecture components or K8s components include the Kubernetes control plane and the nodes in the cluster. The control plane machine components include the Kubernetes API server, Kubernetes scheduler, Kubernetes controller manager, and etcd.

What is Kubeless?

Kubeless is an open-source serverless computing framework runs on top of it. Kubeless allows deploying code without having to worry about infrastructure. Kubeless uses Kubernetes resources for auto-scaling, routing, monitoring, and troubleshooting. The requirement is to create and deploy functions exposed via three possible trigger mechanisms.

• pubsub triggered
• HTTP triggered
• schedule triggered

Pubsub triggered managed with Kafka cluster, a built-in component in the Kubeless installation package, while HTTP triggered, exposed with its services and schedule function, translates to a job. Python, NodeJS, Ruby, and Net core are supported currently.

How does Kubeless work?

Kubeless creates a Custom Reference Definition called Function, which creates a function as a common resource. In the background, a controller forms, will watch over these custom resources and launch on demand. Some basic knowledge of its concepts is required. A working its cluster and Minikube. Kubectl CLI gets installed.

1. Client Application

The application's User Interface is the best-rendered client side in Javascript to use a simple and static web server.

2. Web Server

AWS has a service named Amazon S3 that provides a robust and straightforward web server. The static website of files like HTML and JS for the application server from a simple storage service.

3. FaaS Solution

FaaS is the way to enable Serverless. Examples of FaaS are AWS Lambda, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure Function. In AWS, there is also a service called AWS lambda that is used for this framework. It is an application service for logging in and accessing data built as a Lambda function. Therefore more functions will read and write from a database and provide JSON responses.

4. Security Token Services (STS)

It will generate temporary AWS credentials for users of the application. The client application uses These temporary credentials to invoke the AWS API.

User Authentication - AWS Cognito, an identity service integrated with AWS Lambda. With Amazon Cognito, easily adds users to Sign up and Sign in to mobile and web apps. It also has the option to authenticate users through social identity providers such as Facebook, Twitter, or Amazon.

5. Database

AWS also has a service named AWS DynamoDB, which provides fully managed databases.

In Kubernetes, an operator is an application-specific controller that can help you package, deploy, and manage a Kubernetes application. Explore more about, Kubernetes Operators and Framework.

What Makes Kubeless Important?

Serverless Framework Computing is all about services. Nowadays, the world of IT is moving at some pace away from Iaas and next Paas. PaaS is not concerned about the physical infrastructure; it focuses on providing a discrete capability. Everything depends upon which type of services are used.

1. Serverless services cost as per use.

2. Failover or backup systems are not often required.

3. There is no need to pay to produce or maintain hardware software or other Virtualization.

4. Well-defined SLAs.

5. Quickly deploy, build, and release.

6. The software scales up/down according to business needs.

7. Easily to work on it.

Benefits

1. Easier Operational Management

It separates the infrastructure service and the application running on it. The automatic Scaling functionality of FaaS reduces not only computation costs but also reduces Operational Management overheads. System Engineers and SREs focus on managing and running the underlying platform and core services, such as databases and load balancers, while product engineers manage the functions running on the platform's top.

2. Faster Innovation

Product engineers innovate rapidly as Serverless has system engineering problems in the platform. Thus, less time for operations translates into a smooth application of DevOps and Agile methodologies. Demand Management and storage of applications using FaaS.

3. Reduced Operational Costs

Similar to IaaS and PaaS, infrastructure and human resource cost reduction is the primary advantage of the serverless architecture logic. In a Serverless solution, pay to manage the servers, the databases, and application logic.

Kubernetes security is a holistic endeavor, which entails securing Kubernetes pods, images, runtimes, hosts, and the infrastructure itself.

How to Adopt Kubeless?

Adopting Kubeless is incredibly straightforward and hassle-free. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step - 1 - Setup Kubeless Components

Begin by setting up a dedicated namespace for Kubeless components. This ensures a clean and organized environment for your serverless applications.

Step - 2 - Download and Deploy the Latest Version of Kubeless

This will provide you with all the necessary tools and resources to build and run your serverless functions.

Step - 3 - Deploy Code

Once Kubeless is up and running, it's time to deploy your code. Kubeless makes uploading and managing your functions easy, automatically creating a central pod and service for displaying messages.

Step - 4 - Enable Interactions with your Functions

Accessing your service is effortless with Kubeless. You have multiple options available, including the Proxy command, which seamlessly enables interaction with your functions.

Step - 5 - Responsive User Experience

One of the key benefits of Kubeless is its ability to trigger functions whenever new data is saved into the application database. This ensures a seamless and responsive user experience.

Step - 6 - Download Additional Files and Extensions

To enhance your Kubeless experience, consider downloading additional files and extensions. These can further expand the capabilities of your serverless functions and enable you to build more robust applications.

Step - 7 - Utilize Kubeless CLI

Dive deeper into Kubeless by utilizing the Kubeless CLI. This powerful command-line tool allows you to create topics, explore advanced functionalities, and fine-tune your serverless architecture.

Step - 8 - View the Data Stream in Real-Time 

The leading service in Kubeless listens to messages and triggers the worker functions accordingly. This lets you view the data stream in real-time and gain valuable insights into your application's performance.

Take advantage of Kubeless' user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI). The intuitive interface makes navigating and managing your serverless functions easy, providing a seamless development experience.

Step - 9 - Access Kubeless UI

Access the Kubeless-UI service by retrieving its master URL and using the random IP provided by Kube-api. This ensures secure and convenient access to your serverless environment.
With Kubeless, you can effortlessly create full and functional services while working within your cluster. This eliminates the need to worry about server management and infrastructure, allowing you to focus solely on developing your applications.

Spinnaker is a powerful open-source continuous delivery platform that can be seamlessly integrated with Kubernetes to enhance the deployment and release process and enable developers to automate the entire delivery pipeline, ensuring faster and more efficient software releases.

What are the Kubeless Best Practices?

Kubeless, being a powerful and flexible serverless framework, comes with its own set of best practices that can help developers optimize their application architecture and enhance security. Here are some key best practices to consider when working with Kubeless:

1. Map Application Architecture

Before diving into development, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of your serverless application's architecture. By mapping out the various components and functions, you can ensure better organization and management of the application as it grows.

2. Apply Perimeter Security at the Function Level

To ensure the security of your serverless functions, it is essential to implement perimeter security measures. This includes setting up authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as API keys or JWT tokens, to control access to the functions. Additionally, consider using firewalls or network policies to restrict incoming and outgoing traffic, further enhancing security.

3. Assign Minimal Roles for Each Function

When assigning roles and permissions to the serverless functions, follow the principle of least privilege. Each function should be given the minimal set of permissions required to perform its intended tasks. This helps reduce the potential attack surface and mitigates the impact of any security vulnerabilities.

4. Secure Application Dependencies

Ensure that the dependencies used by your serverless functions are secure and up-to-date. Regularly update the dependencies and perform vulnerability scans to identify and address any security issues. Additionally, consider using container image scanning tools to add an extra layer of security.

5. Stay Vigilant Against Bad Code

Serverless functions can be vulnerable to various security risks, including code injection and insecure coding practices. Follow secure coding practices and regularly review the code for potential vulnerabilities. Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and fix any issues before they are exploited.

6. Include Tests for Service Configuration, CI/CD, and Production

It is essential to have a robust testing strategy in place for service configuration, continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD), and production environments. Incorporate automated tests to validate the functionality and security of your Kubeless functions at every stage of the development lifecycle.

7. Monitor Flow of Information

Monitoring and observing the flow of information within the serverless application is crucial for detecting any abnormal behavior or potential security breaches. Implementing logging and monitoring solutions, such as Kubernetes' built-in monitoring capabilities or third-party tools, can help track and analyze the flow of information, enabling proactive identification and mitigation of security issues.

8. Ensuring Continuous Updates of FaaS Containers

Regularly refreshing the containers used for running the serverless functions is an important security practice. This involves updating the container images with the latest security patches and dependencies to minimize the risk of exploitation. Implementing automated processes for container image updates can ensure that the serverless functions are running on the most secure and up-to-date environment.

By following these best practices, you can ensure the scalability, security, and stability of your Kubeless applications. Keep in mind that best practices may vary depending on your specific use case and requirements, so always stay updated with the latest recommendations from the Kubeless community.

Developers can leveraging these container design patterns to optimize applications for Kubernetes to improve resource utilization, and enhance scalability and resilience. 

Top Serverless Tools

In addition to the serverless offerings mentioned earlier, there are several other top serverless tools available in the market that developers can leverage to build and deploy their applications. These tools provide a wide range of functionalities and support various programming languages, making it easier for developers to work with serverless architectures. Here are some of the top serverless tools worth considering:

OpenFaaS

It is an open-source serverless framework that enables developers to easily build and deploy functions on any cloud or on-premises infrastructure. OpenFaaS provides a simple and intuitive user interface, allowing developers to focus on writing code without worrying about infrastructure management.

Knative

Knative is a Kubernetes-based platform that provides a set of building blocks for creating serverless applications. Knative offers features like auto-scaling, eventing, and request routing, making it easier to build, deploy, and manage serverless functions on Kubernetes clusters.

Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service provided by Microsoft Azure. It supports multiple programming languages and integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, making it a powerful tool for building serverless applications in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Google Cloud Functions

Google Cloud Functions is a serverless compute service offered by Google Cloud Platform. It allows developers to write functions in multiple languages and provides seamless integration with other Google Cloud services, enabling developers to build scalable and event-driven applications.

Alibaba Cloud Function Compute

Alibaba Cloud Function Compute is a serverless compute service provided by Alibaba Cloud. It supports multiple programming languages and provides a highly scalable and cost-effective solution for building serverless applications in the Alibaba Cloud environment.

Kubernetes Solution, powered by Kubeless, provides a scalable platform for deploying and managing serverless functions. 

Final Thoughts

Serverless computing eliminates the concerns of server creation, hardware management, maintenance, support, blackout, and staffing resources. Kubeless leverages the power of Kubernetes controllers to enable this architecture. By utilizing core Kubernetes functionality such as services, deployments, ConfigMaps, and more, Kubeless provides a seamless serverless experience. XenonStack is proud to be a Certified Kubernetes Service Provider, offering expert assistance in implementing Kubeless.

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