How to Build a Serverless Web Application in AWS

How to Build a Serverless Web Application in 2024

Developing a serverless application enables you to create and launch apps without having to care about servers. However, it also allows you to concentrate on your application code rather than on provisioning, configuring, and maintaining infrastructure with several advantages.

Did you know?  As per report, by 2025 the global serverless architecture market value is anticipated to reach $21,988.07 Mn.

What is the best way to design a Serverless application?

By combining different AWS services, you may create a serverless web application. Each service is completely managed and requires no provisioning or management of servers on your part. It would be a good choice if you combined them to create a fully scalable, universally available serverless web application.

Check: Web application development

How to build a Serverless web application in AWS

How to build a Serverless web application

1. Choose a web hosting provider : 

To establish an S3 bucket, AWS prompts you to submit the following information:

Bucket name: The bucket name must be unique and has not been used before on Amazon S3 buckets. Thus always attempt to customize the bucket name.

Region selection: Select the area in which you wish to build the bucket from the drop-down menu.

Good read: S3 Bucket Best Practices

2. Select a serverless backend service :

Lambda functions are available in various programming languages, including Java, Go, PowerShell, Node.js, C#, Python, and Ruby.

When it comes to Lambda, Amazon provides numerous alternatives for creating Lambda functions.

3. Choose a RESTful API: 

Amazon API Gateway is a managed Amazon service that enables you to design, publish, and manage secure APIs.

4. Select a Database : 

Amazon DynamoDB is a high-performance, scalable NoSQL managed cloud database that supports various document and key-value storage types.

Your infrastructure may be hosted on the cloud at this level, but you must still assure the security of your data and services.

5. Select a service for managing privileged access :

IAM helps you to control access to AWS services and resources securely. IAM enables you to establish and manage AWS users and groups and grant and deny them access to AWS resources through permissions.

6. Choose a user administration service :

Amazon Cognito is a management service that enables one to integrate user sign-up and data synchronization into your application, which means it handles user management and authentication for your backend API.

What you should know before building your first serverless web application.

  1. Ensure that you are prepared for serverless computing.

Consider your experience before embarking on your first serverless trip. While serverless tools make it simple to say, “Hello world,” they are not intended for novices, and the deployment and monitoring tools make more sense if you have experience with large-scale production web applications.

The longer you have worked with self-hosted services, the more pleasurable the transition to serverless will be.

  1. From the start, plan for observability.

Plan for observability before you begin developing your first online application. Moreover, determine what you will record and how you will record it. What metrics are you going to track? Where are you going to transmit these metrics? What kind of analytics tools are you going to use?

It is much too typical for users in the early phases of serverless adoption to feel confident about their actions yet be completely unaware of what is happening within their system.

This kind of information is possible with the correct observability platform—ideally one that automates significant instrumentation inside Lambda, such as New Relic. In a single experience, New Relic can help you, monitor, visualize, debug, and alert on your serverless services.

  1. Each Lambda function requires a significant amount of setting.

Allow enough time for Lambda and API Gateway setup. For each function, you will need to complete the following tasks:

  • The code is being uploaded.
  • Setting up the function
  • Establishing an API endpoint (for example, identifying the HTTP methods it must obey)
  • Creating the function’s IAM security role
  • Configuration of the HTTP request (for example, how the variables involved in the request are received and converted into Lambda function arguments)
  • Setting up the HTTP response (for example, how the return variables are delivered to the caller and converted into HTTP format)
  • Establishing a staging endpoint
  • Implementing the API
  1. Create a process for development

The development methodology for a serverless web application is significantly different from that of a traditional web application. You do not have a local development environment; everything is hosted in the cloud. Additionally, even though each Lambda function exists within the broader context of a unified application, setting and deploying each Lambda function is isolated.

While functions must have access to shared code, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. To overcome these barriers, you must establish an effective development process that everyone on your team understands, adheres to, and, most importantly, understands. It may require some trial and error, but serverless is well worth the initial effort after establishing a foundation.

Wrapping up

Serverless success is not only attainable but also tremendously helpful if you have the necessary expertise and tools. AWS Lambda monitoring provides actionable insights into managed service data, providing a holistic picture of your serverless application.

Any queries about serverless web application development? Feel free to fill the contact form to get a free consultation from web development company. 

Written by:

Muzammil K

Muzammil K is the Marketing Manager at Aalpha Information Systems, where he leads marketing efforts to drive business growth. With a passion for marketing strategy and a commitment to results, he's dedicated to helping the company succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Muzammil K is the Marketing Manager at Aalpha Information Systems, where he leads marketing efforts to drive business growth. With a passion for marketing strategy and a commitment to results, he's dedicated to helping the company succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.