DigitalOcean Functions

DigitalOcean Functions is a serverless computing platform that lets you run code on-demand without provisioning or managing servers. Build event-driven applications, API backends, and scheduled tasks that automatically scale based on demand. Pay only for actual execution time, with a generous free tier that makes serverless computing accessible for projects of any size.

Serverless Computing Simplified

Focus entirely on your code while DigitalOcean handles all infrastructure concerns. Deploy functions in seconds using your favorite programming language. Automatic scaling handles traffic spikes from zero to millions of requests without configuration. No servers to maintain, no operating systems to patch, and no capacity planning required - just pure application logic.

Generous Free Tier

Start building serverless applications at no cost:

• 90,000 GB-seconds free - Enough for most small to medium projects

• No invocation charges - Unlimited function calls within free tier

• 400,000 GB-seconds per month - Example: 128MB function can run ~3.5M times

• Pay-as-you-go pricing - After free tier, pay only for actual execution

• No idle charges - Zero cost when functions aren't running

• Transparent costs - Simple per-second billing based on memory allocation

Rapid Development and Deployment

Ship features faster with streamlined workflows:

• Git integration - Deploy directly from GitHub repositories

• Automatic builds - Functions built and deployed on git push

• Quick local development - Test functions locally before deploying

• Version control - Manage multiple versions of functions

• Instant rollback - Revert to previous versions with one click

• Environment variables - Secure configuration management for API keys and secrets

Multiple Language Support

Build with the languages and frameworks you know:

• Node.js - JavaScript and TypeScript with npm package support

• Python - Python 3.x with pip dependencies

• Go - Compiled Go binaries for maximum performance

• PHP - PHP 8.x with Composer package management

• Custom runtimes - Bring your own runtime with Docker containers

• Package managers - Full support for npm, pip, composer, and go modules

Event-Driven Architecture

Build reactive applications that respond to events:

• HTTP triggers - Expose functions as REST API endpoints

• Scheduled triggers - Run functions on cron-like schedules

• Async execution - Queue-based processing for long-running tasks

• Webhook receivers - Process events from external services

• Chain functions - Call functions from other functions for complex workflows

• Parallel execution - Process multiple events simultaneously

Security and Access Control

Enterprise-grade security built into every function:

• VPC integration - Private networking to access databases and services securely

• Environment secrets - Encrypted storage for API keys and credentials

• Authentication tokens - Secure function invocation with JWT tokens

• HTTPS endpoints - All HTTP triggers use SSL/TLS encryption

• CORS configuration - Control cross-origin requests for web applications

• Rate limiting - Protect against abuse with configurable limits

Monitoring and Observability

Comprehensive visibility into function performance:

• Real-time logs - Stream function output for debugging

• Execution metrics - Monitor invocation count, duration, and errors

• Cost tracking - View usage and projected bills in real-time

• Performance insights - Identify slow functions and optimization opportunities

• Error tracking - Centralized error logs with stack traces

• Custom alerts - Notifications when functions fail or exceed thresholds

Developer-Friendly Tools

Modern tooling for efficient function development:

• doctl CLI - Manage functions from command line

• Web-based editor - Edit simple functions directly in browser

• Local emulation - Test functions locally before deployment

• API documentation - Automatically generated API docs for HTTP functions

• Testing support - Write unit tests for function logic

• CI/CD integration - Deploy functions from GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or other pipelines

Automatic Scaling

Handle any load without configuration:

• Scale to zero - No resources consumed when functions idle

• Instant scale-up - Handle sudden traffic spikes automatically

• Concurrent execution - Run thousands of function instances simultaneously

• No cold starts - Optimized runtime for fast function initialization

• Resource allocation - Choose memory from 128MB to 3GB per function

• Execution time limits - Functions can run up to 15 minutes

State and Data Management

Connect functions to storage and databases:

• Managed Database integration - Direct access to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis

• Spaces integration - Read and write files to object storage

• Connection pooling - Efficient database connections across invocations

• Environment state - Share data between function invocations via environment

• External APIs - Call third-party services and APIs

• Message queues - Integrate with RabbitMQ, Kafka, or Redis Streams

Ideal Use Cases

Functions excel for numerous serverless scenarios:

• API backends - Build REST and GraphQL APIs without managing servers

• Webhooks - Process events from GitHub, Stripe, Shopify, and other services

• Image processing - Resize, compress, or transform images on upload

• Scheduled tasks - Daily reports, cleanup jobs, data synchronization

• Chatbots - Handle Slack, Discord, or custom chat integrations

• Data pipelines - ETL processes and data transformation workflows

• Authentication - Custom authentication and authorization logic

• Notifications - Send emails, SMS, push notifications on events

• IoT backends - Process sensor data and device events

Ecosystem Integration

Seamless connection with DigitalOcean services:

• App Platform - Build hybrid applications mixing functions and containers

• Managed Databases - Direct VPC access to databases without public exposure

• Spaces - Trigger functions on file uploads for processing

• Kubernetes - Complement DOKS clusters with serverless functions

• Load Balancers - Route traffic between functions and traditional servers

HTTP Triggers and APIs

Expose functions as web endpoints:

• RESTful APIs - Standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)

• Path parameters - Dynamic URL routing

• Query strings - Parse URL parameters easily

• Request/Response - Full control over HTTP headers and status codes

• JSON support - Automatic parsing and serialization

• Custom domains - Use your domain for function endpoints

⏱️ Scheduled Functions

Automate recurring tasks with cron-like scheduling:

• Flexible schedules - Run functions hourly, daily, weekly, or custom intervals

• Timezone support - Schedule based on specific timezones

• One-time jobs - Schedule functions for specific date/time

• Maintenance windows - Automate cleanup, backups, and maintenance tasks

• Reliable execution - Guaranteed execution even if previous run failed

Learning Resources

Comprehensive documentation and examples accelerate development. Sample functions for common use cases like image processing, email sending, and database operations. Community-contributed examples and templates. Migration guides for moving from AWS Lambda or other platforms. Professional support available for production serverless applications.