Azure Functions for Serverless Computing

Azure Functions is a serverless computing service provided by Microsoft Azure that enables you to run event-driven code without the need to manage infrastructure. It allows developers to build and deploy small pieces of code, called functions, in various programming languages including JavaScript/Node.js, C#, Python, Java, and PowerShell.

Let’s create a simple Azure Function that responds to HTTP requests. This project will help you understand the basics of serverless computing with Azure Functions.

Step 1: Set Up Azure Resources

2. Creating Storage Account

Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment

Open Visual Studio Code: Launch Visual Studio Code.

Install Azure Functions Extension: Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X) and search for “Azure Functions”, then install it.

Sign In to Azure: Click on the Azure icon in the Activity Bar and sign in to your Azure account.

Step 3: Create an Azure Functions Project

Create New Project:

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), type “Azure Functions: Create New Project”, and select it.

1. Choose a directory for your project. Here we are choosing already created Empty Directory for the project

2. Select JavaScript as the language.

3. . Name your function (e.g., “FunctionTesting)

4.. Choose “Anonymous” for the authorization level.

5.. Write the Function Code:

6.  Visual Studio Code will generate a template function. Here’s an example of what the JavaScript code might look like:

 

Run the Function Locally:

You can run the function locally to test it:

Go to Terminal and type : func start

Open a browser and navigate to http://localhost:7071/api/FunctionTesting

Step 4: Deploy the Function to Azure

1. Deploy the Function: Use the Azure Functions extension in Visual Studio Code to deploy your function:
2. Right-click on the project name in the Azure view and select “Deploy to Azure”

3. Choose the subscription and click on create new function app and give a name to the function app.

4. Select the location for the Resources and then click enter.

Test the Deployed Function:

1. After creation, we can also see the app is created on the Function App >>functiontestingappp
   
2. Once deployed, you can test the function by going to the azure portal and choosing the function app.

3. And then Click on Function, here: FunctionTesting.

4. Now, Give a name and value in the http input section and see the output.

So here we can see the function is being trigged with the http method i.e POST/GET.

Http function processed request for url "https://functiontestingappp.azurewebsites.net/api/FunctionTesting?name=Rishav"

In conclusion, Azure Functions empowers developers to focus on writing code to solve business problems without worrying about managing infrastructure. Its serverless architecture, multi-language support, seamless integration with other Azure services, and event-driven model make it an ideal choice for building scalable, efficient, and cost-effective cloud applications.