How to use AWS Lambda for serverless computing

· Category: Cloud Computing

Short answer

AWS Lambda executes your code in response to events, automatically managing the underlying compute resources.

Steps

  1. Write a handler function (Python, Node.js, Java, Go, etc.).
  2. Create a Lambda function in the console or via CLI.
  3. Set a trigger (API Gateway, S3, EventBridge, DynamoDB Streams).
  4. Configure memory, timeout, and IAM role.
  5. Monitor with CloudWatch Logs and X-Ray.

Tips

  • Cold starts: use provisioned concurrency for latency-sensitive apps.
  • Keep deployment packages small for faster startup.
  • Use Lambda Layers for shared libraries.

Common issues

  • 15-minute execution limit: use AWS Step Functions for long workflows.
  • 250 MB unzipped deployment package limit.