Deploying to Google Cloud Functions

Google Cloud Functions (GCF) is a Function as a Service (FaaS) platform that enables the execution of applications in response to events from external sources like HTTP requests or other Google Cloud Platform services. Supporting multiple programming languages, GCF typically requires raw source code upload, except for Java applications which can be deployed using JAR files. The platform simplifies deployment by handling dependencies and code compilation, as demonstrated in the example of a Java API for a Random Quotes web app. While GCF facilitates straightforward deployments, it lacks advanced versioning and networking capabilities found in other GCP services, necessitating external orchestration for complex deployment strategies. Despite this, the simplicity of GCF is advantageous for traditional deployments, as it reduces the effort required from developers, who can rely on Google to manage the compilation process.