BaaS vs FaaS – What’s the Difference?

BaaS vs FaaS understand the differences

Cloud computing is also opening the new doors of opportunities to utilize higher levels of platform services such as API gateways, authentication, queues, and much more. However, at present, serverless architectures are also under discussion. However, the question here is, are we going to embrace serverless architectures next? Well, you need to understand the fact that most of the talk and think about the serverless architectures are in the same breath. Well, BaaS and serverless or FaaS are two recent categories in the ever-changing and vast world of cloud computing services. These technologies certainly have their own benefits. However, to know more about these, it is highly important to dive a bit deep into these to understand which one is going to work for your organization more effectively. We will also have a look at FaaS vs. BaaS for better understanding. So, here we go:

What is a BaaS – Backend as a Service?

BaaS is also known as Backend as a Service or mBaaS – Mobile Backend as a Service is actually a cloud model, which is the latest approach of mobile application and website development. BaaS is offering various backend features that are essentials for backend services of every application, which can allow developing a completely functional application backend in the best possible way. The developers who are getting BaaS services then they only have maintained their frontend. Various BaaS vendors are offering ready to use features for the activities which can be taken place on the server, for example, database management, push notifications, remote updating, user authentication, cloud storage or hosting, etc.

Want to know more about Backend as a Service? Please read more details at:

BaaS – Backend as a Service

What is a FaaS – Function as a Service?

FaaS is also known as Function as a Service. This is a serverless approach to execute the code’s modular pieces on edge. FaaS is meant to help the developers to update or write a segment of code on the fly, which can be executed in the response of an event such as clicking on an element by the user on a web page. The use of Function as a Service is making it easier to scale code and providing a highly cost-effective solution to implement microservices. Thinking of developing a web application is similar to using a service such as directing a movie with handling various events. Function as a Service is providing various benefits to the developers, including cost-effectivity, built-in scalability, and a higher level of efficiency in the best possible way.

Differences between BaaS and FaaS?

When it comes to having a look at the Baas x FaaS, then the very first thing which you have to understand here is that BaaS are the services that are meant for managing and handling backend functionality. While Function as a Service is the applications that are being used to manage and implement microservices in a more effective way. Microservices are not daemons that are running all the time in the services. These are the services that are being executed when they are needed within a few seconds. So, you can simply say that FaaS is actually an event-based architecture which is helping to execute events. It comes with a higher simplicity level and is auto-scalable. While on the other hand, BaaS is the services that are running in the background to manage the entire backend services such as push notifications, geolocation, user authentication, email verification, database optimization, etc. BaaS is meant to provide a functional backend to the developer, which is not only helping to get source effective solutions but also letting the developers pay more attention to the other user service or frontend functionality as compared to spending more time to handle the complex backend services.

Benefits of a serverless architecture

Serverless architecture is creating a buzz in the world of cloud computing at the present time. Therefore, more and more people want to know about what are the benefits which they can get by using serverless architecture technology. So, here are some of the most amazing benefits of serverless architecture approach which you must know:

Developer speed

With the serverless architecture, developers can spend more time on writing codes for their websites or applications which will ultimately improve the speed of the developer in the best possible way. This will obviously mean that developers have to spend lesser time to deploy and can get faster development turnaround with ease.

Scalability

Most amazingly, the serverless architecture contains scalability inherently. Developers have no need to be worried about heavy use and high traffic contingencies. Because this architecture can handle entire scaling concerns more effectively.

Cost-efficiency

Serverless architecture is not only providing ease in the processes of development but also offering no charges for idle time of computation. This can make the services highly cost-effective for clients.

Drawbacks of a serverless architecture

As with every other technology, serverless architecture also contains some drawbacks, which are highly essential for you to know to make a more effective decision for your organization. So, have a look at some benefits of serverless architecture to get a better idea:

Less control

It is evident that using a third-party service can let you lead to lesser system control. It is because you will be unable to understand the whole system properly.

More complexity to test

Sometimes, it can be difficult to incorporate codes of serverless architecture into a local environment of testing, which can make the process of application testing quite complex.

Cold start

Apps that haven’t been used for a while take longer to startup and to process the first request. This can not be an effective start because it can limit the applications in some scenarios, which is obviously never an option that someone wants.

BaaS – Backend as a Service Providers Overview

Back4App

Back4App is one of the most popular mobile backend development providers available in the market, and for good cause. They have a nice and efficient development ability and use the world-renowned Parse framework. The best thing about Back4App is that their service is totally open-source, and developers can change things around so they can have a more touching experience when they are dealing with this backend. Back4App is not only affordable, but their customer service is also really nice. Because it is open-source, the backend provider regularly updates their service, fixing potential bugs, and improving performance in the long run.

Want to know more about Back4App? Please check the cool features the platform offers.

Back4App’s Features

Kinvey

Kinvey is a general mobile development provider and is designed to develop all kinds of online applications. Kinvey has been one of the most popular options out there and also has several other services based on the Kinvey framework. Kinvey offers cloud services and is able to develop efficient programs that do not require much power from the user-side to run.

Backendless

As the name suggests, the aim of this service is to ultimately remove the headache of backends from the developer’s head. While providing a real-time database, and analytics, as well as multiple other features for the application to run online, Backendless is a really nice service. Backendless is ultimately designed to make social media applications for mobile phones and can also be used to make online multiplayer games that combine the features of social media platforms with the addiction and enjoyment of online games. Oh, and Backendless is also really easy to use and is able to provide email marketing services too.

FaaS – Function as a Service Providers Overview

AWS Lambda

Amazon Web Services (AWS) have become a pioneer in the cloud market, no matter how you look at it. The AWS Lambda is a service provided by AWS, which allows developers to efficiently make computational programs without the need for a server. Instead, it allows “events” to run on the mobile phone that is running an application based on AWS Lambda. These events are then verified, and then the program is run.  The overall scheme of the service seems very grand, but it is relatively complex for beginner developers to understand, and thus only advanced developers use them.

Azure Cloud Functions

Azure Cloud functions is similar to AWS Lambda and is developed by Microsoft instead. The major difference between AWS Lambda and Microsoft Azure CF that a beginner would find is the interface. If you don’t like one, you can switch to the other.

Google Cloud Functions

Google Cloud functions is very similar to the Azure Cloud Functions, and ultimately AWS Lambda, offering serverless services, through the cloud so that the program can be more efficient, smaller in size, and much more manageable. All programs are event-driven on Google Cloud Functions, just like AWS Lambda.

Conclusion

When it comes to using technology, then we all are aware of the fact that cloud computing is allowing us to take benefit of its elasticity and manageability in a more effective way. It is also giving the powers to utilize and own a server. However, when it comes to utilizing serverless architecture like FaaS or prefer to use BaaS, both of the technologies have their own multiple benefits and drawbacks. But you can choose any of the services as per your needs to ensure that you are getting higher benefits.