How do I deploy OpenWhisk on Kubernetes?

Clone the openwhisk-deploy-kube repository and follow the README instructions; it supports managed clusters like AKS or EKS, and local setups with Minikube for development and production.

OpenWhisk vs AWS Lambda: which is better for self-hosting?

OpenWhisk is better for self-hosting due to its open-source, vendor-neutral design, while AWS Lambda is a fully managed service with more integrations. Choose OpenWhisk for control and on-premises needs.

How to create a serverless workflow in OpenWhisk?

Use function composition to chain actions into workflows, and set up triggers and rules for event-driven logic, as described in the documentation on actions and triggers_rules.

What programming languages does OpenWhisk support?

It supports multiple languages through customizable runtimes; check the documentation for specifics and guides on developing new runtimes for additional language support.

How to handle the recent breaking upgrade in OpenWhisk?

The upgrade to Apache Pekko requires re-deploying new clusters and updating configuration from Akka to Pekko equivalents, as detailed in the breaking change notice, which may involve cutover planning.

Can OpenWhisk be used for real-time event processing?

Yes, its event-driven architecture with triggers and rules is designed for real-time, scalable event processing, making it suitable for reactive cloud applications and microservices.

OpenWhisk

Apache-2.0Scala2.0.0

An open-source serverless platform for building cloud applications with functions, workflows, and event-driven automation.

Visit Website

What is OpenWhisk?

Apache OpenWhisk is an open-source serverless cloud platform that allows developers to build and run applications using event-driven functions. It provides a programming model for creating serverless APIs, composing functions into workflows, and connecting events to functions via rules and triggers. The platform abstracts infrastructure management, enabling automatic scaling and efficient resource utilization.

Target Audience

Cloud developers and DevOps engineers building event-driven, scalable applications who want an open-source alternative to commercial serverless offerings. It's also suitable for organizations needing a self-hosted serverless platform for on-premises or hybrid cloud deployments.

Value Proposition

Developers choose OpenWhisk for its open-source nature, flexibility in deployment (including Kubernetes and standalone modes), and robust event-driven architecture. It offers a vendor-neutral alternative to proprietary serverless platforms, with support for custom runtimes and self-hosting capabilities.

Overview

Apache OpenWhisk is an open source serverless cloud platform

Use Cases

Best For

Building event-driven microservices that scale automatically

Related Projects

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub

GitHub

6.8k stars1.2k forks0 contributors

Creating serverless APIs from individual functions

Orchestrating complex business processes with serverless workflows

Developing reactive applications that respond to real-time events

Deploying a self-hosted serverless platform on Kubernetes

Prototyping and testing serverless applications locally with the standalone stack

Not Ideal For

Organizations seeking a fully managed, no-ops serverless platform without infrastructure management
Projects requiring frequent, seamless upgrades without breaking changes or re-deployment
Teams needing deep integration with specific cloud provider ecosystems out-of-the-box
Small-scale applications where the overhead of deploying and maintaining OpenWhisk is disproportionate

Pros & Cons

Pros

Flexible Deployment Models

Offers both a standalone Java-based stack for local development and Kubernetes deployment for production, catering to various environments as detailed in the Quick Start and Deploy to Kubernetes sections.

Event-Driven Composition

Supports triggers, rules, and function chaining for building complex, reactive serverless workflows, enabling scalable event-driven automation as highlighted in the key features.

Open-Source Control

Provides vendor neutrality and self-hosting capabilities under the Apache License, ideal for on-premises or hybrid cloud strategies without vendor lock-in.

Multi-Language Runtime Support

Allows development in various languages with customizable runtimes, and the documentation includes guides for implementing new languages, enhancing flexibility.

Cons

Operational Complexity

Requires managing dependencies like Docker, Java, and Node.js for the standalone stack, or a Kubernetes cluster for production, increasing setup and maintenance effort compared to managed services.

Breaking Change Risks

The recent migration to Apache Pekko introduced breaking changes necessitating cluster re-deployment and configuration updates, as noted in the upgrade notice, which can disrupt existing deployments.

Ecosystem Limitations

Lacks the extensive built-in integrations and marketplace of commercial serverless platforms like AWS Lambda, often requiring custom development for third-party service connections.

Open Source Alternative To

OpenWhisk is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Google Cloud Functions

A serverless compute platform on Google Cloud that lets developers run event-driven functions without managing infrastructure.

AWS Lambda

AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers, executing your code only when needed and scaling automatically.

Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service on Microsoft Azure that allows running event-triggered code without managing infrastructure, supporting multiple programming languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Home

Docker

OpenFaaS

OpenFaaS - Serverless Functions Made Simple

Stars26,142

Forks1,969

Last commit23 days ago

IronFunctions

IronFunctions - the serverless microservices platform by

Stars3,218

Forks223

Last commit2 years ago

1Backend

Build AI (or any) apps with scalable microservices & microfrontends.

Stars2,330

Forks114

Last commit2 days ago

#serverless-architectures

#serverless

#serverless-functions

#workflow-automation

#kubernetes

#functions-as-a-service