Combining Git and Serverless platforms

Did you know that 90% of new software projects adopt DevOps practices, often including serverless architectures and Git for version control?

According to a report by Statista, the adoption of DevOps—a culture that heavily relies on tools like Git and serverless platforms—is skyrocketing. But why are these technologies becoming the backbone of modern software development?

This article dives into the symbiotic relationship between Git and serverless platforms and how they revolutionize software development cost-efficiency, scalability, and speed.

What is serverless?

Serverless computing is an execution model where cloud providers automatically manage the infrastructure. Developers are freed from managing servers and can focus solely on writing code. Serverless platforms automatically scale resources, allowing applications to handle varying amounts of traffic without manual intervention.

Key features of serverless:

• Auto-scaling: Automatically scales up or down based on demand.
• Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for the compute time you consume.
• Event-driven: Functions are triggered by HTTP requests, database changes, etc.
• Stateless: Each function execution is independent, without a persistent state.
• Microservices architecture: Encourages small, single-purpose functions that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.

Importance in software development

Combining Git and serverless platforms brings notable benefits in three crucial aspects of software development:

Cost-Efficiency

• Serverless: Pay-as-you-go pricing reduces upfront costs.
• Git: Efficient code management cuts down operational expenses.

Scalability

• Serverless: Auto-scaling adjusts to demand, removing manual scaling hassles.
• Git: Facilitates easy code management, enabling projects to grow smoothly.

Speed of Development

• Serverless: Zero server management accelerates code deployment.
• Git: Quick iterations are possible through CI/CD pipelines and agile features.

How does Git empower serverless deployment?

Git, as a version control system, complements serverless architectures in several ways:

Code versioning and deployment

Git repositories can be directly linked to serverless platforms for automated deployments. Versioning allows for easy rollbacks and auditing of serverless functions.

CI/CD integration

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines can be set up to automatically deploy serverless functions upon code changes in a Git repository.

Collaboration and modularity

Git enables multiple developers to work on the same project, which aligns well with the modular nature of serverless architectures.

Configuration as Code

Serverless configurations can be stored as code in Git repositories, allowing for version-controlled infrastructure.

Traceability

Each serverless function deployment can be traced back to a specific Git commit, providing a clear history of changes.

Contentrain: Going beyond Git CMS

By leveraging the strengths of static content repositories and serverless platforms, Contentrain offers flexibility and cost advantages to users. Static content can be stored on Git platforms, while dynamic content finds its home on platforms like Google Firestore and AWS.

Users can create data models within Contentrain, with the option to keep static data models in Git repositories and dynamic data models on serverless platforms.

But what does that mean to you as a user?

Actually, it all comes down to efficiency and cost. For example, let's say you want to set up a small eCommerce platform (where you can sell 8-10 types of products); for a small shop, you do not need to go and use an API-based headless CMS like Hygraph and contentful that may increase your costs later.

Let’s break this down a bit:

Since the amount of dynamic data that will be returned inside is very small, all the remaining content (website banners, product descriptions, modals, etc.) will be static, so there’s no need for constant API calls. In this case, you can keep static content in Git repos and dynamic product prices or data from users on serverless platforms.

This offers solid benefits in terms of cost and efficiency. Since the contents are stored in your Git repos, you can manage them as you wish and serve them quickly. At the same time, you don’t need to run API calls for static content. The cost will always be lower because you will run fewer API calls for your content.

This is just an example, but it goes beyond eCommerce. The same applies to content-rich websites and knowledge-based projects. By combining Git and Serverless platforms, we offer the user features that mere Git-based headless CMS cannot provide.

Every Git-based CMS gets stuck when it comes to dynamic content management, and that's why users give up using git cms very quickly. But with the “Serverless Collections” feature that Contentrain will bring, it becomes a CMS where users can also store and manage their dynamic content.

Just as users connect Git providers to their projects, they can connect serverless platforms like Firebase, AWS, or Supabase to Contentrain. The platform also enables its users to manage dynamic and static content simultaneously, without you having to worry about how much of your API bandwidth you’ve spent.

Closing thoughts

As we've explored in this article, this powerful combination offers many benefits that are hard to ignore. From cost-saving pay-as-you-go models to seamless auto-scaling and rapid deployment, Git and serverless technologies are setting new standards for developing, deploying, and managing applications.

Platforms like Contentrain are already pushing the envelope, demonstrating how the fusion of Git and serverless can surpass traditional CMS capabilities. This opens up new possibilities for developers and offers cost-effective and efficient solutions for businesses of all sizes.

As DevOps culture continues to gain traction, it's clear that the Git and serverless duo will play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of software development. Whether you're a startup aiming for rapid growth or an established enterprise looking to optimize operations, now is the time to consider how integrating these technologies can give you a competitive edge.

So, as you ponder your next software project, remember: the future is not just serverless or Git—it's both. And it's already here.