Middle ground.
WHAT EXISTS BETWEEN ONE SERVER AND A CLUSTER
Compose on a single host, with a proxy Simpler cluster managers with fewer concepts Platform services running containers without a cluster Serverless container services, scaling to zero
WHAT PLATFORM SERVICES PROVIDE
You supply an image; they run it.
WHAT THEY HANDLE
Scaling Certificates Routing Health management
WHAT THEY COST
Less control Provider-specific configuration Charges per unit of use
WHERE THEY SUIT
Applications without unusual requirements Small teams Variable or low traffic
WHAT SCALING TO ZERO PROVIDES
No cost when idle.
WHAT IT COSTS
A delay on the first request after idleness.
WHERE THAT IS ACCEPTABLE
Internal tools, and low-traffic services.
WHERE IT IS NOT
Anything a customer waits on.
WHAT SIMPLER CLUSTER MANAGERS PROVIDE
Multi-host scheduling with fewer concepts.
WHAT THEY COST
A smaller ecosystem and community.
WHAT TO CHOOSE
The simplest thing meeting the requirement, with room to move.
WHAT PRESERVES THAT ROOM
Containerising the application properly.
WHY
The image runs anywhere; only the surrounding machinery changes.
