Azure Cloud Functions loves Python!
Our primary objective at X-Line is to turn our clients’ imaginations into working, robust software and to do this, we make use of the world’s cutting edge technologies. Some examples of these are Azure Functions offered by Microsoft. Along with Python and its Pandas library, we build functions that do some pretty awesome stuff for our clients. Now the question you might have is what exactly are Azure functions and how can they benefit me? Well, let’s tell you!
Azure Functions are a cloud-computing service that allow users to run code the very instant they need to. In other words, they are pieces of code that are invoked by triggers. What is lovely about them is that users do not have to worry about any underlying infrastructure. They scale on demand meaning users only pay for what they get. This inherently frees them from numerous design decisions that they would have otherwise had to make to write a cost-efficient service. Functions can be written in a variety of programming languages and we absolutely love Python.
Python was conceived in 1991 with a design philosophy that emphasised on code readability. Over the years it has grown to become the world’s most popular language bridging the gaps between business and developers. This is due to its object orientated approach as well as short implementation time has allowed developers to write clear, logical code for both small and large-scale projects. Now that you kinda know a bit about Azure functions with Python, you’re probably wondering what exactly can be done by combining these technologies together. Let’s dive right into that!
Micro Service Architecture is an architectural concept that aims to decouple a solution by decomposing functionality into discrete services. Using SOLID principles as a guideline, we can decompose Business Services into a set of building blocks if you will, where individual services exist as Functions in the Azure cloud. Time investment into building an individual services is small and also with no sunk costs because each building block can be easily decommissioned when no longer needed. Together the building blocks form a harmony that perform your Business Processes. Building blocks can be combined like LEGO in different combinations, giving you intricate and tailored outcomes.
Just like IFTTT, the tasks that Azure Functions can perform is limited to the imagination. For example:
Background emails can be sent triggered by a business event.
Fetching data from the internet on a schedule, and saving it in a database.
Reports generated and distributed on a schedule.
Please do reach out to us if you have any Azure Functions that you need building!