Comparing Functions vs. AWS Lambda Functions
Blog post from PubNub
Functions and AWS Lambda are both event-driven services used to execute code, but they cater to different use cases and scenarios. AWS Lambda is integrated within the AWS ecosystem, allowing event triggers to invoke code and other Amazon services, with users billed based on compute time, making it suitable for scenarios requiring significant processing power. In contrast, PubNub's Functions are specifically invoked by real-time messages or HTTP requests, focusing on in-transit data enrichment with a globally replicated KV Store for data storage. Users are charged per transaction, making it cost-effective for handling real-time data. Functions excel in real-time applications like message translation and validation, while Lambda is best for tasks like generating analytics data and automated log analysis. Both platforms offer serverless deployment, allowing code to be executed globally without the need for managing infrastructure. PubNub's open-source catalog of Functions and AWS Lambda's integration with various services highlight their adaptability, although PubNub emphasizes rapid integration with third-party services.