How Azure Functions are Redefining Cloud Development
Author: Tom Campbell
Here at Xorbix, we build custom software that runs in the cloud. While we have done a few AWS projects, Microsoft Azure tends to be where we dwell. One of the cloud technologies that we use in our Azure projects is Azure Functions. For this blog, we’d love to share a glimpse into this powerful feature with you.
Azure Functions present a realm where developers can harness serverless compute services. Envision this: crafting and executing code in response to assorted events without ever tangling with the intricacies of provisioning or managing infrastructure. This is the essence of Azure Functions.
Serverless computing simplifies the deployment journey. It’s a realm where developers can truly immerse themselves in their code, trusting the cloud provider to oversee the backdrop of infrastructure needs, be it provisioning or ongoing maintenance.
Traditionally, when deploying applications, a developer would have to consider server capacity, ensure redundancy, manage scaling, and handle infrastructure maintenance. With serverless computing, all these considerations are handled by the cloud provider. Developers simply write the function, deploy it, and the cloud provider automatically manages the function execution in response to events. This model allows for faster development and deployment cycles, as well as providing the client more cost savings since you only pay for the actual compute time your functions consume.
Azure Functions’ are also versatile, with support for multiple programming languages—from C# and JavaScript to Java and Python—it offers developers a canvas and a palette they’re familiar with. Here at Xorbix, C# and Python are our languages of choice. Additionally, it is easy to get started in Visual Studio Code and testing them in our development is just as smooth.
Now, let’s talk about triggers. Triggers lie at the heart of Azure Functions, acting as the catalysts that bring functions to life. Essentially, a trigger determines the conditions under which a function will run. Every function is paired with its unique trigger, springing into action when that event occurs. Here’s a brief overview of some foundational triggers:
HTTP Trigger
Use Cases – RESTful API endpoints, webhooks, etc.
Timer Trigger
Use Cases – Scheduled tasks, regular data cleanup, nightly backups, etc.
Blob Trigger
Use Cases – Image or data processing whenever new data is uploaded to a blob.
Queue Trigger
Use Cases – Background processing of queue messages, order processing systems, etc.
