AWS Lambda
Serverless compute service that runs code in response to events without provisioning or managing servers
faasd
Lightweight, single-host serverless platform running on containerd, no Kubernetes
faasd delivers the full OpenFaaS experience on a single Linux host using containerd and CNI, requiring as little as 2 vCPU and 2 GB RAM, with stable API and low cost.
Overview
Overview
faasd brings the complete OpenFaaS feature set to a single Linux machine. It is ideal for developers, small teams, and edge deployments that want serverless functions without the overhead of a Kubernetes cluster. Running as a single Go binary managed by systemd, it leverages containerd and CNI, supports both x86_64 and Arm64, and can host stateful containers such as PostgreSQL, Grafana, or Prometheus with persistent volumes.
Deployment
Installation is straightforward on any Linux host that has containerd and a CNI plugin installed. Minimal resources—about 2 vCPU and 2 GB RAM—are sufficient, making it suitable for VMs, bare‑metal servers, or Raspberry Pi devices. Two editions are offered: faasd CE for non‑commercial use and OpenFaaS Edge (faasd‑pro) for commercial workloads, each using the same core OpenFaaS components (gateway, queue‑worker, scale‑to‑zero, etc.). Once deployed, functions can be managed via the familiar OpenFaaS UI, CLI, and API, enabling rapid prototyping, internal tooling, or customer‑facing serverless services.
Highlights
Single Go binary runs as a systemd service for easy management
Portable across x86_64 and Arm64 Linux hosts with containerd and CNI
Supports stateful containers with persistent volumes
Uses the same core OpenFaaS components (gateway, queue‑worker, scale‑to‑zero, etc.)
Pros
- Minimal resource footprint enables low‑cost deployments
- Eliminates Kubernetes complexity while retaining OpenFaaS functionality
- Stable API and built‑in monitoring tools
- Easy to install and manage with systemd
Considerations
- Limited to a single host; no native multi‑node scaling
- Requires containerd and a CNI plugin to be pre‑installed
- Commercial features need an OpenFaaS Edge license
- Persistent storage setup may require manual configuration
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Fit guide
Great for
- Small teams building internal automation tools
- Edge or IoT deployments on Raspberry Pi or lightweight VMs
- Organizations seeking cost‑effective serverless without Kubernetes
- Developers prototyping functions quickly on a single host
Not ideal when
- Large‑scale, multi‑node production workloads
- Environments that rely on the full Kubernetes ecosystem
- Use‑cases requiring advanced autoscaling across clusters
- Systems without containerd or CNI support
How teams use it
Internal automation dashboard
Run scheduled background jobs and API endpoints on a single VM, reducing operational overhead.
Edge analytics on Raspberry Pi
Process sensor data locally with stateful containers like InfluxDB, avoiding cloud latency.
Customer‑facing SaaS function hosting
Package functions into a VM image and deliver to client datacenters, ensuring data residency.
CI/CD function execution via GitHub Actions
Trigger serverless functions as part of pipelines without managing a Kubernetes cluster.
Tech snapshot
Go91%
Shell7%
Makefile2%
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum system requirements?
At least 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, a Linux host with containerd and a CNI plugin; supports x86_64 and Arm64.
How does faasd differ from OpenFaaS on Kubernetes?
faasd runs on a single host without a Kubernetes control plane, offering the same core functionality with lower complexity and cost.
Is there a free version available?
Yes, faasd CE is free for non‑commercial, personal use under the faasd CE EULA.
Can faasd handle stateful workloads?
It supports persistent volumes, allowing containers such as PostgreSQL, Grafana, and Prometheus to retain data across restarts.
Is faasd suitable for production use?
For commercial production you need the OpenFaaS Edge (faasd‑pro) license; the CE edition is limited to non‑commercial use.
Project at a glance
Stable- Stars
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Repo age6 years old
Last commit4 months ago
Primary languageGo
Last synced 5 hours ago