Source URL: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/serverless/google-cloud-functions-is-now-cloud-run-functions/
Source: Cloud Blog
Title: Cloud Functions is now Cloud Run functions — event-driven programming in one unified serverless platform
Feedly Summary: Cloud Functions and its familiar event-driven programming model is now Cloud Run functions, complete with the fine-grained control and scalability that developers love about the serverless platform. With Cloud Run functions, we’ve created a unified serverless platform for all your workloads, so you don’t have to choose between the two.
This goes beyond a simple name change. We’ve unified the Cloud Functions infrastructure with Cloud Run, and developers of Cloud Functions (2nd gen) get immediate access to all new Cloud Run features, including NVIDIA GPUs.
When Cloud Functions become Cloud Run functions, you can write and deploy functions directly with Cloud Run, giving you complete control over the underlying service configuration:
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A new deployment option for Cloud Run: the function
Further, all functions that were created with Google Cloud Functions (2nd gen) have access to all of Cloud Run’s capabilities, including:
Multi-event trigger management on functions
High-performance Direct VPC egress
The ability to mount Cloud Storage volumes
Google-managed language runtimes, with automatic security updates on base images
Traffic splitting and revision control
Managed Prometheus and OpenTelemetry support with sidecar containers
Inference functions with NVIDIA GPUs
“The newly released Cloud Run functions with GPU support enables Python developers to use Hugging Face models without having to worry about infrastructure, GPU drivers or containers. Cloud Run’s scale-to-zero and fast startup capabilities are a great match for developers looking at getting started with AI using HuggingFace models with just a few lines of serverless code” – Julien Chaumond, CTO, Hugging Face
Continued support for existing APIs, gcloud commands and terraform modules
Cloud Functions 2nd gen functions will automatically be converted into Cloud Run functions. With Cloud Run functions, we are committed to continuing support for the existing functions APIs, gcloud commands and Terraform modules (Gen 2). This lets you enable Run features on your function without having to refactor your deployment automation.
1st gen functions will continue to be available as Cloud Run functions (1st gen). 1st gen functions need to be upgraded to Cloud Run functions before you can get full access to the underlying Cloud Run features. Cloud Run functions (1st gen) APIs, gcloud commands and Terraform modules (Gen1) will continue to be supported.
Connecting your platform with functions
Cloud Run functions makes connecting your platform simple to build and easy to maintain — you’re only responsible for the code, we’ll handle the rest. Anyone on your team with coding knowledge can create a solution without having to package up the code. You can also choose from seven popular languages. Data scientists, for example, can get a Python script running in the cloud even with limited infrastructure knowledge.
Edit your function in a new inline editor
Cloud Run functions keeps productivity high and operations low by making each function its own independent component, isolating it from directly impacting other workloads. Changes and updates to one function are unlikely to impact another function.
A common use case for functions is responding when an object is added to a Cloud Storage bucket. The function might generate thumbnails of an image or run sentiment analysis on a text file. But there are many other examples for which customers choose Cloud Functions:
Transforming data and loading it into BigQuery
Creating a webhook that’s called by a third party (e.g., GitHub)
Using ML APIs to analyze data added to a database or storage bucket
Get started with Cloud Run functions
Whether you’re new to serverless or a seasoned pro, Cloud Run functions make it easier than ever to build and manage event-driven applications.
Learn more about improvements to the Cloud Functions experience
Deploy an HTTP function on Cloud Run
Deploy an Event driven function on Cloud Run
Learn more about running inference applications on Cloud Run with NVIDIA GPUs
Learn more about Cloud Run functions and Cloud Run in this live webinar.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the transition of Google Cloud Functions to Cloud Run functions, which enhances the serverless platform by providing developers with advanced features, scalability, and the ability to deploy GPU-accelerated applications. This evolution empowers data scientists and AI developers, facilitating seamless integration with popular machine learning models and managing workloads with minimal infrastructure management.
Detailed Description:
The transition from Google Cloud Functions to Cloud Run functions represents a significant advancement in serverless computing, providing a unified platform that merges the capabilities of both services. This change brings several notable benefits and features:
– **Unified Serverless Platform**: Cloud Run functions replace Cloud Functions, combining their features into a single solution that allows for easy management and deployment of various workloads.
– **Access to Advanced Features**:
– Developers now benefit from fine-grained control over service configuration and access to Cloud Run’s comprehensive functionalities.
– Multi-event trigger management allows for increased versatility in responding to various initiatives.
– **High Performance and Security**:
– Enhanced infrastructure includes NVIDIA GPU support, enabling developers to harness machine learning models from Hugging Face without infrastructure concerns.
– Automatic security updates for managed language runtimes help maintain secure deployments.
– **Operational Flexibility**:
– The ability to mount Cloud Storage volumes and implement traffic splitting allows developers to create robust applications.
– Support for managed Prometheus and OpenTelemetry provides insights into performance and monitoring.
– **Ease of Use for Developers**:
– Cloud Run functions simplify the deployment process for data scientists and general developers, allowing for rapid scaling and ease of coding.
– Developers can generate applications with minimal infrastructure knowledge, making serverless computing more accessible.
– **Transition for Existing Users**:
– Functions created with Cloud Functions (2nd gen) are automatically upgraded to Cloud Run functions, ensuring continuity and access to new features without major refactoring.
– Continued support for existing APIs, gcloud commands, and Terraform modules promotes a seamless transition experience for users accustomed to the previous version.
– **Productivity and Isolation**:
– Each Cloud Run function operates independently, which isolates changes, reducing the risk of affecting other workloads and facilitating streamlined operations.
– **Real-world Use Cases**:
– Examples provided demonstrate practical applications such as data transformation, machine learning model integration, and webhook creation for third-party notifications.
The evolution to Cloud Run functions not only boosts the capability of serverless applications but also positions Google Cloud as a strong choice for developers engaging with AI and data processing workflows in the cloud. The integration of advanced features and user-friendly deployment processes marks a significant step in enhancing productivity, especially for data-centric applications.
Overall, Cloud Run functions are designed to lower the entry barrier for deploying sophisticated applications, particularly beneficial for AI developers and data scientists venturing into the cloud computing domain.