Mastering Serverless: Building Scalable Applications with Azure Functions

Mastering Serverless: Building Scalable Applications with Azure Functions

Chapters:

1. Introduction to Serverless Architecture
   • What is serverless?
   • Benefits of serverless computing
   • Overview of Azure Functions in the serverless landscape
2. Getting Started with Azure Functions
   • Setting up an Azure account
   • Understanding Azure Function apps
   • Creating your first Azure Function
3. Understanding Triggers and Bindings
   • Introduction to triggers and bindings
   • Popular triggers: HTTP, Timer, Queue
   • Binding types and examples
4. Working with HTTP-Triggered Functions
   • Creating an HTTP-triggered function
   • Handling requests and responses
   • Securing HTTP endpoints with authentication
5. Timer and Event-Driven Functions
   • Creating timer-triggered functions
   • Event-driven architecture with Azure Functions
   • Using Event Grid and other event sources
6. Storage Integration and Data Handling
   • Connecting Azure Functions to Azure Storage
   • Working with blobs, tables, and queues
   • Implementing data storage operations
7. Building Scalable APIs with Azure Functions
   • Designing RESTful APIs with Azure Functions
   • Structuring endpoints and routes
   • Handling API versioning and scaling
8. Connecting to Databases
   • Integrating with SQL databases
   • Connecting to Cosmos DB and other NoSQL databases
   • Best practices for data access in serverless applications

9. Managing Dependencies and Packages
   • Using NuGet and external libraries in Azure Functions
   • Handling configuration and environment variables
   • Managing package versions and updates
10. Error Handling and Logging

• Implementing robust error handling
• Using Azure Application Insights for logging and monitoring
• Debugging and troubleshooting serverless apps

11. Security and Authentication

• Securing Azure Functions with OAuth and JWT tokens
• Implementing role-based access control (RBAC)
• Integrating with Azure Active Directory (AAD)

12. Serverless Workflows with Durable Functions

• Introduction to Durable Functions
• Implementing orchestrator and activity functions
• Handling long-running workflows

13. CI/CD for Azure Functions

• Setting up Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment
• Using Azure DevOps for pipeline automation
• Testing and deploying Azure Functions

14. Performance Tuning and Scaling

• Understanding function scaling options
• Optimizing cold starts and latency
• Best practices for improving performance

15. Real-World Use Cases and Applications

• Case studies of Azure Functions in production
• Building multi-tier applications with serverless
• Future trends and evolving best practices in serverless computing

This structure will give readers a comprehensive guide to building serverless applications with Azure Functions from scratch to production-level deployments.