“Why does managing software infrastructure take up so much time that could be better spent actually building stuff?”
To tackle this, we built a compelling solution that delivered architectures on managed/serverless services, centered around AWS Lambda. This is the Serverless Framework.
The response was overwhelming. Thanks to you, Serverless Framework became more than just a tool—it became the tool for serverless development.
“Serverless Framework is the most popular IaC tool for managing AWS Lambda functions among Datadog customers.” – Datadog, State of Serverless 2023
Today, in the serverless arena, there’s a palpable sense of flux—exciting, yet fraught with challenges.
New serverless services are rapidly emerging from AWS and beyond, offering incredible potential to developers. Yet, the experience of working with these services varies widely between vendors, creating a jarring, inconsistent development experience.
Moreover, as new serverless technologies enable more use-cases, it’s not just opportunity that’s growing—it’s complexity too.
Last but not least, cost and portability concerns are increasing, and rightfully so in the new economy.
What does this shifting landscape mean for the Serverless Framework? Stepping up our game is essential. To do this, evolution is necessary, and we intend to evolve in a manner that shares the value we create with our community more than ever before.
Here’s what you can expect from the forthcoming Serverless Framework V4:
More details on the changes are below. We know this could be a big shift for some organizations. At the same time, we’re intent on innovating a model that allows all community members to share in our collective success.
Here are a few action items to get started:
The forthcoming release of Serverless Framework V.4 will introduce a new pricing model for Organizations generating more than $2M in Annual Revenue. These changes will only apply to Serverless Framework V.4 and beyond, slated for general availability early next year, and not to earlier versions. Serverless Framework V.3 will continue to be maintained via critical security and bug fixes through 2024.
Serverless Framework V.4 will introduce Extensions, which allow users to deploy more serverless use-cases and infrastructure patterns than the Framework previously enabled (front-end frameworks, AI workflows, APIs, etc.).
Extensions are essentially Docker containers filled with Infrastructure-as-Code logic. They can be written in any programming language and leverage any library or framework of your choice.
The orchestration of Extensions is managed by an upcoming separate project integrated within V.4. This project takes care of the provisioning and the sharing of context, including inputs, outputs, policies and state.
What sets Extensions apart is their flexibility. Since they are containerized, you can easily integrate them into your existing workflows, even if those workflows are based on different Infrastructure-as-Code tools like AWS CloudFormation. Moreover, Extensions allow you to tap into new use-cases and services beyond AWS. In essence, they are Bring-your-own-Opinion.
To deploy an Extension, you can either use it programmatically or directly incorporate it into your serverless.yml files:
# serverless.yml
service: my-app
database:
extension: mongodb-atlas@0.5.1
input:
databaseName: users
databaseType: serverless
Anyone can build an Extension. Furthermore, we’re introducing a revenue-sharing model where 80% of the revenue generated from your Extension will be directed to you. This is a first in Infrastructure-as-Code and draws inspiration from other platforms like YouTube and Twitter.
Extensions maintain a deployed state, and our upcoming pricing structure calculates the total deployed Extensions on a monthly basis.
The Serverless Framework represents the largest AWS and serverless user-base. This model aligns our interests. We’re eager to promote your Extensions.
This model also seeks to better incentivize the community to maintain and continue innovation of Infrastructure-as-Code, over long periods of time.
We’ll be doing a lot of learning as we implement this model, but our speculative calculations suggest that some existing Serverless Framework Plug-Ins, if converted into Extensions, currently have the potential to generate over $65K in annual recurring revenue. We’re working with Plug-In authors currently to migrate to Extensions where they make sense.
Reserve your Extension name today via the Serverless Framework Dashboard, and we’ll follow up with our development kit in the coming weeks to help you get started.
In tandem with the changes we’re making, we are excited to unveil a new Partner Program. This program emphasizes reseller opportunities, lead generation, and features a forthcoming partner profile on serverless.com.
If you’re a Consulting Firm, Independent Software Vendor, or General Distributor, and you want to connect with one of the largest serverless communities out there, this program is for you.
To start enrollment in our new Partner Program, fill out this application form.
Serverless Framework has attained remarkable success over the years. Now, more than ever, we are committed to elevating the framework’s long-standing mission to new heights while addressing today’s emerging challenges in the serverless movement. Moreover, we’re intent on sharing value more inclusively, to nurture a more vibrant Serverless Framework community.