Module 2ab - Exploring Azure Core Products - Compute, Functions & Logic Apps

Question 1

• What are Azure Functions?
• What kind of work are they most common for?

Answer 1

Serverless Compute, PaaS offering ideal when you’re only concerned about running code

• Allows you to execute code in almost any modern coding language
• Common for Event responses, timer responses, or dealing with messages from other Services
• When work can be done quickly (seconds or less)
• Flexibility allows for managing scale, run on virtual networks or totally isolate the function

Question 2

What two (2) types of Function Apps are available?

Answer 2

Stateless - The default type for all. The function does not maintain state

Durable - Or stateful, by passing a context through the function to track prior activity

Question 3

What are the two (2) cost models for Function Apps

Answer 3

Consumption - pay for CPU cycles used per execution. Extremely cheap

Execution - pay per call. Significantly higher cost per unit but it’s something like 20 cents per one MILLION executors …

Question 4

What are Azure Logic Apps?

Answer 4

Power App Platform Serverless Compute Service

• Instead of executing CODE, these execute WORKFLOWS built with predefined logic blocks
• They start by trigger; either Event or new data meets specific criteria
• Basic scheduling triggers for running workflows on a regular interval

You can create logic app workflows through the Azure Portal Visual Designer, which are persisted as a JSON file

Question 5

Hint: the *concept*, not the implementation…

Functions vs Logic Apps: What’s the main diff wrt Development and performing actions?

Answer 5

Functions are Code-First (Imperative). You write code to complete steps/actions

Logic Aps are Designer-First (Declarative). You use a GUI to define actions and how they relate to each other

Question 6

Functions vs Logic Apps: What are the diffs wrt state?

Answer 6

Functions are stateless, though Durable Functions can have state via Execution Context

Logic Apps are stateful and can pass state and results to the next steps in their workflow

Question 7

Functions vs Logic Apps: What’s the diff wrt Binding and Connectivity?

Answer 7

Functions have about a dozen built-in binding types, ability to write custom bindings

Logic Apps have a large collection of connectors, Enterprise Integration Pack for B2B scenarios and the ability to build your own custom connectors

Question 8

Functions vs Logic Apps: What tools Monitor each?

Answer 8

Functions are monitored by Azure Application Insights

Logic Apps can be monitored through Azure Portal or Log Analytics

Question 9

Functions vs Logic Apps: How is each managed ie what would you use to interact with each one?

Answer 9

Functions can be accessed through their REST API or through Visual Studio

Logic Apps can be accessed from Azure Portal, a REST API, Powershell, or through Visual Studio

Question 10

Functions vs Logic Apps: What are their respective Execution Contexts ie where does each Service run?

Answer 10

Functions can run locally or in the Cloud

Logic Apps ONLY run in the Cloud