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AWS Bites
By AWS BitesTechnology
AWS Bites episodes
- 144. Lambda Billing Changes, Cold Start Costs, and Log Savings: What You Need to Know
Cost is always top of mind when building in the cloud, and recently AWS has introduced some changes worth paying attention to. In this episode of AWS Bites, we explore a shift that caught many by surprise: the “free” INIT phase for Lambda’s managed runtimes is going away. That cold start time that used to fly under the billing radar? It's now part of the cost. We dig into what this means for your workloads, who might feel the impact, and whether this gives languages like Rust and Go an extra edge. But it’s not all bad news. AWS has also rolled out new pricing tiers for CloudWatch Logs, making it cheaper for high-volume accounts. On top of that, there are new options to send logs directly to S3 or Firehose, helping simplify pipelines and reduce costs. We close with a few tips to help you keep your Lambda and logging spend under control. If you're building on AWS and care about efficiency, this is one you won't want to miss.
Big shoutout to fourTheorem for powering yet another episode of AWS Bites. At fourTheorem, we believe the cloud should be simple, scalable, and cost-effective, and we help teams do just that. Whether you’re diving into containers, stepping into event-driven architecture, or scaling a global SaaS platform on AWS, or trying to keep cloud spend under control our team has your back. Visit https://fourTheorem.com to see how we can help you build faster, better, and with more confidence using AWS cloud!
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- AWS Blog – Tiered Pricing for AWS Lambda: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/introducing-tiered-pricing-for-aws-lambda/
- Luc van Donkersgoed – When is the Lambda INIT phase free and when is it billed?: https://lucvandonkersgoed.com/2022/04/09/when-is-the-lambda-init-phase-free-and-when-is-it-billed/
- AWS Bites – Explaining Lambda Runtimes (Episode 104): https://awsbites.com/104-explaining-lambda-runtimes/
- AWS Blog – Standardized Billing for Lambda INIT Phase: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/aws-lambda-standardizes-billing-for-init-phase/
- Lambda Cold Start Benchmarks by Maxim David: https://maxday.github.io/lambda-perf/
- Duckbill Group Blog – Lambda Logs Just Got Cheaper: https://www.duckbillgroup.com/blog/lambda-logs-just-got-cheaper/
- AWS Bites – Becoming a Logs Ninja with CloudWatch (Episode 35): https://awsbites.com/35-how-can-you-become-a-logs-ninja-with-cloudwatch
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn:- https://twitter.com/eoins | https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/- https://twitter.com/loige | https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/
14 min - 143. Is App Runner better than Fargate?
Picture this. You’ve got a web app built with Rust and Solid.js. It started life running on a dusty on-prem server, but now it's time to move it to the cloud. The clock is ticking. You could take the well-worn AWS path: set up a VPC, configure subnets, attach an ALB, define IAM roles, and deploy with Fargate. Or you could try something different. In this episode of AWS Bites, we share the real story of migrating a monolithic containerized app to AWS App Runner. It promises to take your code, build it, deploy it, and scale it with minimal effort. But does it really deliver? We compare App Runner with Fargate based on hands-on experience. You’ll learn where App Runner shines, where it gets in the way, and how we handled everything from custom domains to background job processing. You’ll also hear when we would still choose Fargate, and why. If you've ever hoped for a Heroku-like experience on AWS, or you want to simplify your container deployments without giving up too much control, this episode is for you.
AWS Bites is brought to you in association with fourTheorem. At fourTheorem, we believe serverless should be simple, scalable, and cost-effective — and we help teams do just that. Whether you’re diving into containers, stepping into event-driven architecture, or scaling a global SaaS platform on AWS, our team has your back. Visit https://fourTheorem.com to see how we can help you build faster, better, and with more confidence using AWS cloud!
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Last Week in AWS: The 17 Ways to Run Containers on AWS: https://www.lastweekinaws.com/blog/the-17-ways-to-run-containers-on-aws/
- GitHub Issue - App Runner scale to zero discussion: https://github.com/aws/apprunner-roadmap/issues/9
- Custom Domain with CloudFormation (Mark van Holsteijn, Xebia): https://xebia.com/blog/configure-custom-domain-for-aws-apprunner-service-using-cloudformation/
- AWS Docs - App Runner hosted zone IDs: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/general/latest/gr/apprunner.html
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn:- https://twitter.com/eoins | https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/- https://twitter.com/loige | https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/
43 min - 142. Escape from S3
We discuss common use cases and challenges for copying data between S3 buckets and S3-compatible object storage services. We share our experience building an open source Node.js CLI tool called S3-Migrate to efficiently migrate data with separate source and destination credentials. We cover performance considerations like streaming, chunk sizes, concurrency and parallelism.
AWS Bites is brought to you in association with fourTheorem. If you need a friendly partner to support you and work with you to de-risk any AWS migration or development project, check them out at fourtheorem.com
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- s3-migrate CLI tool: https://github.com/lmammino/s3-migrate
- DigitalOcean Spaces Object Storage: https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/spaces/
- Cloudflare R2: https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/developer-platform/products/r2/
- Backblaze B2: https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-storage
- Wasabi Cloud Storage: https://wasabi.com/
- Linode / Akamai Object Storage: https://www.linode.com/products/object-storage/
- MinIO (Self-hosted S3-compatible storage): https://min.io/
- Basecamp / Hey’s move away from S3: https://world.hey.com/dhh/it-s-five-grand-a-day-to-miss-our-s3-exit-b8293563
- AWS re:Post - How to move objects between S3 buckets: https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/move-objects-s3-bucket
- AWS Labs - Utility for S3 Migration: https://github.com/awslabs/utility-for-s3-migration
- s3s3mirror (Java-based tool): https://github.com/cobbzilla/s3s3mirror
- rclone S3 Support: https://rclone.org/s3/
- knox-copy (Ruby-based, deprecated): https://github.com/goodeggs/knox-copy
- Flexify.io (paid cloud migration service): https://flexify.io/
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn:- https://twitter.com/eoins | https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/- https://twitter.com/loige | https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/
31 min - 141. Step Functions with JSONata and Variables
In this episode, we provide an overview of AWS Step Functions and dive deep into the powerful new JSONata and variables features. We explain how JSONata allows complex JSON transformations without custom Lambda functions, enabling more serverless workflows. The variables feature also helps avoid the previous 256KB state size limit. We share examples from real projects showing how these features simplify workflows, reduce costs and enable new use cases.
AWS Bites is brought to you in association with fourTheorem. If you need a friendly partner to support you and work with you to de-risk any AWS migration or development project, check them out at fourtheorem.com
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- JSONata and variables official launch post: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/simplifying-developer-experience-with-variables-and-jsonata-in-aws-step-functions/
- JSONata exerciser: https://try.jsonata.org/
- Stedi JSONata playground: https://www.stedi.com/jsonata/playground
- Episode 103: Building GenAI Features with Bedrock https://awsbites.com/103-building-genai-features-with-bedrock/
- Episode 63: How to automate transcripts with Amazon Transcribe and OpenAI Whisper https://awsbites.com/63-how-to-automate-transcripts-with-amazon-transcribe-and-openai-whisper/
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn:- https://twitter.com/eoins | https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/- https://twitter.com/loige | https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/
16 min - 140. DuckDB Meets AWS: A Match Made in Cloud
In this episode, we explore DuckDB, an open-source analytical database known for its speed and simplicity. Discover how DuckDB stands out in various applications and compare it to other tools like SQLite, Athena, Pandas, and Polars. We also demonstrate integrating DuckDB with AWS Lambda and Step Functions for serverless analytics.
AWS Bites is brought to you by fourTheorem. If you are looking for a partner to architect, develop and modernise on AWS, give fourTheorem a call. Check out fourtheorem.com
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Our `duck-query-lambda`, A Lambda runtime for DuckDB queries: https://github.com/fourTheorem/duck-query-lambda
- DuckDB's official website: https://duckdb.org/
- LibSQL: https://github.com/tursodatabase/libsql
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter, BlueSky or LinkedIn:- https://twitter.com/eoins | https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/- https://twitter.com/loige | https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/
18 min - 139. Building Great APIs with Powertools
In this episode, we discuss using AWS Lambda Powertools for Python to build serverless REST APIs with AWS Lambda. We cover the benefits of using Powertools for routing, validation, OpenAPI support, and more. Powertools provides an excellent framework for building APIs while maintaining Lambda best practices.In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
AWS Bites 41. How can Middy make writing Lambda functions easier? - https://awsbites.com/41-how-can-middy-make-writing-lambda-functions-easier AWS Bites 120. Lambda Best Practices - https://awsbites.com/120-lambda-best-practices/ REST API - Powertools for AWS Lambda (Python) - https://docs.powertools.aws.dev/lambda/python/latest/core/event_handler/api_gateway/ Hono - https://hono.dev/ Fastify - https://fastify.dev/ Axum - https://github.com/tokio-rs/axum FastAPI - https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?Leave a comment here or connect with us on BlueSky or LinkedIn:
https://bsky.app/profile/eoin.sh | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoins/ https://bsky.app/profile/loige.co | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianomammino/25 min - 138. How Do You Become A Cloud Architect?
Ready to take your tech career to the cloud and build those awe-inspiring systems you see? Then you're in the right place. This episode of AWS Bites is your blueprint for becoming a successful cloud architect. We're not just going to talk about it; we'll show you what worked for us, sharing the critical skills you need, and a practical path to build your expertise. Whether you're a beginner or looking to take the next step, join us as we equip you with the knowledge and tools to make your mark as a cloud architect!
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Google Cloud Architecture Definition: https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-cloud-architecture
- Market data about the Cloud Professional Services market: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/cloud-professional-services-market
- EP 91 - Our Journeys into Software and AWS: https://awsbites.com/91-our-journeys-into-software-and-aws/
- AWS Well-Architected Framework: https://aws.amazon.com/architecture/well-architected/
- EP 68 - Are you well architected?: https://awsbites.com/68-are-you-well-architected/
- Cloud Design Patterns: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/patterns/
- The art of scalability (book): https://www.amazon.com/Art-Scalability-Architecture-Organizations-Enterprise/dp/0134032802
- Enterprise integration patterns (book): https://www.amazon.com/Enterprise-Integration-Patterns-Designing-Deploying/dp/0321200683/
- Designing Data-Intensive Applications (book): https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Data-Intensive-Applications-Reliable-Maintainable/dp/1449373321
- AWS Networking Essentials (free guide): https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started/aws-networking-essentials/
- Docker Curriculum (free): https://docker-curriculum.com/
- How Linux works (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Linux-Works-Brian-Ward/dp/1718500408/
- Exercism coding challenges: https://exercism.org/
- The tangled web (book): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tangled-Web-Securing-Modern-Applications/dp/1593273886
- Low Level YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lowlevellearning
- AWS - Best Practices for Security, Identity, & Compliance: https://aws.amazon.com/architecture/security-identity-compliance/
- Supercommunicators (book): https://www.amazon.com/Supercommunicators-Unlock-Secret-Language-Connection/dp/0593862066/
- An Elegant Puzzle (book): https://www.amazon.com/Elegant-Puzzle-Systems-Engineering-Management/dp/1732265186/
- Staff Engineer (book): https://www.amazon.com/Staff-Engineer-Leadership-beyond-management/dp/1736417916/
- EP 58 - What can kitties teach us about AWS: https://awsbites.com/58-what-can-kitties-teach-us-about-aws/
- AWS User Groups: https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/usergroups/
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter:- https://twitter.com/eoins- https://twitter.com/loige40 min - 137. Transit Gateway Explained
In this episode, David Lynam provides an overview of AWS Transit Gateway, which aims to simplify complex network connectivity between VPCs, VPNs, and on-premises networks. We discuss the limitations of using VPC peering and the benefits Transit Gateway provides through its hub-and-spoke model. The main components of Transit Gateway are explained, including attachments, route tables, associations, and route propagation. We go through some example use cases like sharing Transit Gateways across accounts, network isolation for compliance, routing traffic through security services, and bandwidth/scaling capabilities.
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- How Amazon VPC Transit Gateways work
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter:- https://twitter.com/eoins- https://twitter.com/loige19 min - 136. 20 Amazing New AWS Features
In this pre-re:Invent 2024 episode, Luciano and Eoin discuss some of their favorite recent AWS announcements, including improvements to AWS Step Functions, Lambda runtime updates, DynamoDB price reductions, ALB header injection, Cognito enhancements, VPC public access blocking, and more. They share their thoughts on the implications of these new capabilities and look forward to seeing what else is announced at the conference. Overall, it's an exciting time for AWS developers with many new features to explore. Very important: no focus on GenAI in this episode :)
AWS Bites is brought to you, as always, by fourTheorem! Sometimes, AWS is overwhelming and you might need someone to provide clear guidance in the fog of cloud offerings. That someone is fourTheorem. Check them out at fourtheorem.com
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- The repo containing the code of the AWS Bites website: https://github.com/awsbites/aws-bites-site
- Orama Search: https://orama.com/
- JSONata in AWS Step Functions: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/simplifying-developer-experience-with-variables-and-jsonata-in-aws-step-functions/
- EC2 Auto Scaling improvements: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/amazon-ec2-auto-scaling-highly-responsive-scaling-policies/
- Node.js 22 is available for Lambda: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/node-js-22-runtime-now-available-in-aws-lambda/
- Python 3.13 runtime: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/compute/python-3-13-runtime-now-available-in-aws-lambda/
- Aurora Serverless V2 now scales to 0: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/amazon-aurora-serverless-v2-scaling-zero-capacity/
- Episode 95 covering Mountpoint for S3: https://awsbites.com/95-mounting-s3-as-a-filesystem/
- One Zone caching for Mountpoint for S3: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/mountpoint-amazon-s3-high-performance-shared-cache/
- Appending to S3 objects: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/directory-buckets-objects-append.html
- 1 million S3 Buckets per account: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/amazon-s3-up-1-million-buckets-per-aws-account/
- DynamoDB cost reduction: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/database/new-amazon-dynamodb-lowers-pricing-for-on-demand-throughput-and-global-tables/
- ALB Headers: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/aws-application-load-balancer-header-modification-enhanced-traffic-control-security/
- Cognito Managed Login: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/improve-your-app-authentication-workflow-with-new-amazon-cognito-features/
- Cognito Passwordless Authentication: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/improve-your-app-authentication-workflow-with-new-amazon-cognito-features/
- VPC Block Public Access: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/vpc-block-public-access/
- Episode 88 where we talk about VPC Lattice: https://awsbites.com/88-what-is-vpc-lattice/
- Direct integration between Lattice and ECS: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/streamline-container-application-networking-with-native-amazon-ecs-support-in-amazon-vpc-lattice/
- Resource Control Policies: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/introducing-resource-control-policies-rcps-a-new-authorization-policy/
- Episode 23 about EventBridge: https://awsbites.com/23-what-s-the-big-deal-with-eventbridge/
- EventBridge latency improvements: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2024/11/amazon-eventbridge-improvement-latency-event-buses/
- AppSync web sockets: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/mobile/announcing-aws-appsync-events-serverless-websocket-apis/
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter:- https://twitter.com/eoins- https://twitter.com/loige18 min - 135. Serverless is making a comeback where you least expect it
In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of using serverless architecture in enterprise companies. We cover topics like cost, complexity, security, ability to evolve architecture, and more. Overall, we find that serverless can provide benefits like reduced operational costs, improved developer productivity, and increased focus on core business logic for larger companies.
AWS Bites is sponsored by fourTheorem, an Advanced AWS partner that works collaboratively with you and sets you up for long-term success on AWS. Find out more at fourtheorem.com
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Yan Cui - “Even simple serverless applications have complex architecture diagrams”, so what?
- Dark Matter Developers: The Unseen 99%
- Deloitte - Determining the Total Cost of Ownership of Serverless Technologies when compared to Traditional Cloud (PDF)
- Generating Value Through IT Agility and Business Scalability with AWS Serverless Platform (Gated Link)
Do you have any AWS questions you would like us to address?
Leave a comment here or connect with us on X/Twitter:- https://twitter.com/eoins- https://twitter.com/loige22 min
About AWS Bites
From the publisher's feed
AWS Bites is the show where we answer questions about AWS! This show is brought to you be Eoin Shanaghy and Luciano Mammino, certified AWS experts.
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