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Don't overestimate the benefits of serverless computing
This article is part of the Modern Stack issue of June 2018, Vol. 1, No. 2
Interest in serverless computing is sky high, but developers and IT pros should recalibrate their expectations. It's common for new technologies to follow a similar path when it comes to awareness and excitement. Gartner calls this phenomenon a hype cycle and even charts technology trends as they move from the "peak of inflated expectations" through the "trough of disillusionment" and ultimately onto the "plateau of productivity." Gartner's 2017 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies put serverless PaaS on an upward trend, still not quite at peak hype. Judging by the buzz at recent conferences, it's hard to imagine any technology as overhyped as serverless computing is right now. Serverless-related sessions at May's Red Hat Summit in San Francisco were packed. Rich Sharples, senior director of product management at Red Hat, fielded questions about the benefits of serverless, including as a strategy to modernize mainframe applications. Several of these questions exemplified inflated expectations, but also a misunderstanding of the ...
Features in this issue
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Service mesh architecture radicalizes container networking
Containerization is the IT industry's favorite superhero, so it's only fitting that containers have a powerful sidekick in service mesh. Together, they fight network management chaos.
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Cloud applications demand a new IT operations strategy
Business and software development trends are putting more pressure on IT operations staff and changing the way teams deploy applications.
Columns in this issue
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Don't overestimate the benefits of serverless computing
It's natural to be curious about new technologies, but the hype around serverless computing far outweighs its practical advantages.
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Emerging PaaS model puts cloud app dev into the fast lane
As they grapple with application backlogs and a shortage of seasoned, business-savvy developers, enterprises will increasingly look to drag-and-drop programming options.