AWS Lambda
Serverless compute service that runs code in response to events without provisioning or managing servers
Fission
Kubernetes-native serverless platform for fast, language-agnostic functions
Fission lets developers deploy functions on Kubernetes with just code, offering automatic scaling, 100 ms cold starts, and support for multiple languages without managing containers or Docker images.
Overview
Overview
Fission is a Kubernetes‑native serverless framework that lets developers focus on writing code while the platform handles container orchestration, scaling, and routing. By abstracting Docker and Kubernetes details, you can create functions in any supported language—NodeJS, Python, Go, Ruby, PHP, Bash, or any Linux executable—and deploy them with a single CLI command.
Capabilities
Functions are executed from a pool of warm containers, delivering typical cold‑start latencies around 100 ms. Automatic scaling reacts to request volume, adding or removing pods without manual intervention. Because Fission runs on your existing Kubernetes cluster, you can reuse the cluster’s monitoring, logging, and security tooling, and you can also extend the platform with custom environments when a specific runtime is required.
Deployment
Install Fission via Helm or the provided manifests, then create an environment (e.g., nodejs) and a function using the CLI or UI. The framework handles the underlying pods, networking, and load‑balancing, allowing you to iterate quickly from code to production while keeping operational overhead low.
Highlights
100 ms cold‑start latency via warm container pool
Automatic scaling based on demand, no configuration needed
Supports many runtimes (NodeJS, Python, Go, Ruby, PHP, Bash, any Linux executable)
Runs on existing Kubernetes clusters, leveraging native tooling
Pros
- Language‑agnostic function development
- Seamless integration with Kubernetes observability tools
- Fast cold‑start performance
- No need to write Dockerfiles for most use‑cases
Considerations
- Requires a running Kubernetes cluster
- Advanced customizations may need Docker or custom environment images
- Learning curve for Kubernetes concepts
- Limited to Linux‑based runtimes
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Fit guide
Great for
- Teams already operating Kubernetes who want serverless capabilities
- Developers seeking rapid function iteration without container management
- Organizations needing multi‑language FaaS on‑prem or private cloud
- Projects that benefit from unified monitoring with existing k8s stack
Not ideal when
- Small scripts run locally without Kubernetes
- Environments lacking Kubernetes expertise or resources
- Use cases demanding sub‑10 ms cold starts
- Pure Windows‑only workloads
How teams use it
HTTP API endpoint
Deploy a stateless API function that scales automatically with request traffic, handling spikes without pre‑provisioned pods.
Event‑driven data processing
Trigger functions from message queues or cron schedules to process data pipelines, with automatic scaling and zero‑downtime updates.
Microservice augmentation
Add lightweight serverless sidecars to existing services for tasks like image resizing or auth checks, managed via the same Kubernetes cluster.
Rapid prototyping
Iterate on business logic by pushing code snippets directly, seeing results in ~100 ms cold start without building container images.
Tech snapshot
Go88%
Shell11%
Smarty1%
Mustache1%
Makefile1%
JavaScript1%
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to write Dockerfiles for my functions?
No, Fission provides language environments; you only need a Dockerfile when creating a custom environment.
What Kubernetes version is required?
Fission supports any Kubernetes version that is actively maintained; refer to the installation guide for the exact minimum version.
How does scaling work?
Fission monitors request rates and automatically creates or removes function pods; no manual scaling policies are needed.
Can I use my own container image?
Yes, you can create custom environments with your own images to run functions in any runtime.
Is there a UI for managing functions?
Fission provides a CLI and integrates with the Fission UI dashboard for visual management.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 8,812
- Watchers
- 8,812
- Forks
- 795
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age9 years old
Last commit2 days ago
Primary languageGo
Last synced 13 hours ago