Custom API Development vs Serverless Functions

Developers should learn custom API development when building systems that require data exchange between microservices, mobile apps, web frontends, or external partners, as it standardizes interactions and improves maintainability meets developers should use serverless functions for building scalable, cost-effective applications with variable workloads, such as apis, data processing, and real-time file transformations. Here's our take.

Custom API Development

Nice Pick

Developers should learn custom API development when building systems that require data exchange between microservices, mobile apps, web frontends, or external partners, as it standardizes interactions and improves maintainability

Pros

• It is essential for scenarios like e-commerce platforms integrating payment gateways, IoT devices sending sensor data, or enterprise software exposing functionality to partners, ensuring secure and efficient communication
• Related to: rest-api, graphql

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Serverless Functions

Developers should use serverless functions for building scalable, cost-effective applications with variable workloads, such as APIs, data processing, and real-time file transformations

Pros

• They are ideal for microservices, IoT backends, and automation tasks where operational overhead needs minimization, enabling rapid deployment and reduced time-to-market
• Related to: aws-lambda, azure-functions

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Custom API Development is a concept while Serverless Functions is a platform. We picked Custom API Development based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Custom API Development wins

Based on overall popularity. Custom API Development is more widely used, but Serverless Functions excels in its own space.