Implementing Functions

Question 1

Features of a Function App

Answer 1

• A serverless application platform
• A simple way to run small pieces of code “functions” in the cloud
• Auto Scaling to meet demains
• Under the consumption plan, you only pay when its running

Question 2

What are the various hosting choices

Answer 2

• Consumption Plan (Serverless, automatic scaling with 5 minute limit)
• App Service Plan (Traditional pricing model)
• Premium Plan (speed, security reserved instances)
• Docker Containers (on premises or in any cloud)
• Locally (for development and testing)

Question 3

What are the choices for development tools

Answer 3

• Portal
• Visual Studio
• Azure Function Core Tools (Cross-platform CLI and Visual Studio Code)

Question 4

Function Trigger Types Examples

Answer 4

• HTTP Request Triggers
• TImer Triggers
• Queue Triggers
• CosmosDB Trigger
• Blob Triggers
• And Many others

ONLY ONE TRIGGER PER FUNCTION

Question 5

Authentication Key Types

Answer 5

• Anonymous (no key required)
• Function (key per function
• Admin (key per Function App)

Question 6

What are the characistics of an Input Binding

Answer 6

• Get data into our functions
• Optional
• A binding is connection to data
• Can have multiple input bindings

Examples include Blob, CosmosDB, Microsoft Graph

Question 7

What are the characistics of an Output Binding?

Answer 7

• Lets us write data to an external system
• Can have more than one output binding

Examples include Creating a new blob, post a message to a queue, creates a new document in CosmosDB

Question 8

Azure Durable Functions

Name 3 types of functions in Durable Functions

Answer 8

• Client or Starter Function (calls the Orchestration function)
• Orchestration Function (defines the steps in the workflow and handle errors)
• Activity Function (implements a step in the workflow process

Question 9

Information

• The orchestrator function handles all errors from the various steps
• Can run sequentially or in parallel
• Activity Functions can use any of the input and output bindings

Question 10

Name the 5 Orchenstration Patterns

Answer 10

• Function Chaining
• Fan-out Fan-in (parellel processing)
• Asynchronous HTTP API (good for repeatly pull for progress)
• Monitor (recurring porcess in a workflow)
• Human Interaction

Need to better understand Asynchronous HTTP API and Monitor differences