Boost AWS Lambda Performance with GraalVM: A Step-by-Step Guide

Enhancing AWS Lambda functions with GraalVM can significantly improve performance by reducing cold start times and lowering memory usage.

This tutorial guides you through creating a Java-based AWS Lambda function, converting it to a GraalVM native image, and comparing the performance of both implementations.

Prerequisites:

• AWS SAM CLI

• GraalVM installed with the native-image component

• Java 11 or later

• Gradle

• Docker (for building native images)

Step 1: Create a New Project Using SAM CLI

Initialize a new AWS SAM project with Java and Gradle:

sam init --runtime java11 --dependency-manager gradle --app-template hello-world --name graalvm-s3

This command sets up a new SAM project named graalvm-s3 with a sample "Hello World" function.

Step 2: Create the Java Lambda (Without GraalVM)

Navigate to the project directory and rename the sample function:

cd graalvm-s3 mv HelloWorldFunction S3Java

Update the template.yaml file to reflect the new function name.

Step 3: Build, Deploy, and Run the Java Lambda

Build the project using SAM CLI:

sam build

Deploy the function to AWS:

sam deploy --guided

Follow the prompts to complete the deployment. Once deployed, test the function using the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI.

Step 4: Convert the Java Lambda to GraalVM Native Image

Modify the build.gradle file to include the GraalVM Native Image plugin:

plugins { 
id 'org.graalvm.buildtools.native' version '0.9.6' 
}

Configure the native image settings:

nativeBuild {
    mainClass = 'com.example.S3JavaHandler'
    outputName = 's3java-native'
}

Ensure that your handler class (S3JavaHandler) is correctly specified.

Step 5: Build and Deploy the GraalVM Native Image Lambda

Build the native image using Gradle:

./gradlew nativeBuild

Update the template.yaml to point to the native image binary. Deploy the function:

sam deploy

Step 6: Compare Performance

Test both the Java and GraalVM-based Lambda functions to compare cold start times and memory usage.

GraalVM native images typically exhibit faster cold start times and reduced memory consumption, enhancing the efficiency of serverless applications.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you've successfully created a Java-based AWS Lambda function, converted it to a GraalVM native image, and observed the performance improvements.

For more detailed information, refer to the official AWS documentation on setting up a GraalVM Native Image project for the AWS SDK for Java.

AWS Documentation

References:

• Set up a GraalVM Native Image project for the AWS SDK for Java

• Serverless Functions with GraalVM on AWS Lambda

• aws-samples/serverless-graalvm-demo

By implementing GraalVM native images, you can enhance the performance of your AWS Lambda functions, leading to more efficient and cost-effective serverless applications.