Servers vs runnables

Learn the difference between servers and runnables

When setting up applications in Release, it's essential to understand the differences between servers and runnables to choose the right execution type for your needs. Here's a detailed explanation of both.

Servers

Servers in Release are designed to run continuously, providing a persistent environment that ensures your application is always available. This makes them ideal for applications that require a stable, long-term setup, such as web servers, databases, or services that need to be operational 24/7.

The primary advantage of using a server is its reliability and stability. Because servers are always running, they can handle tasks that require constant uptime and immediate responsiveness. This is particularly useful for hosting websites, APIs, or backend services where downtime could impact users or business operations.

Another key feature of servers is their ability to maintain state between restarts. This means they can preserve data, sessions, and other critical information, which is essential for applications that need to retain user data or track ongoing transactions.

Scalability is also a strong suit of servers. They can be scaled to handle increased load, ensuring consistent performance as demand grows. This makes them a suitable choice for applications expecting high traffic or usage spikes.

Runnables

Runnables are designed for on-demand execution. They are perfect for tasks that do not require a continuous run but are triggered to perform specific operations as needed. When a runnable is called, it starts, completes its task, and then shuts down, making it highly efficient for short-lived processes.

The primary benefit of using runnables is resource efficiency. Since runnables only run when needed, they consume fewer resources compared to servers that run continuously. This can lead to cost savings and more effective resource management.

Runnables are typically stateless, meaning they don’t retain information between executions. This makes them ideal for tasks like batch processing, data transformation, or executing microservices that perform specific, isolated functions. Because they don’t need to preserve state, runnables can start up quickly, perform their designated task, and then shut down, ensuring prompt completion of tasks.

In addition to their efficiency, runnables are well-suited for scheduled tasks or automated workflows such as data processing jobs or CI/CD pipelines. This makes them a versatile option for various automated processes that need to run at specific intervals or in response to certain triggers.

Choosing the execution type

If your application needs to be available continuously, handle persistent data, or serve real-time user requests, a server is the best choice. If your tasks are intermittent and can benefit from resource efficiency, runnables are the better option.

	Servers	Runnables
Execution Type	Continuous, always running	On-demand, runs as needed
Use Case	Web servers, persistent services, LLM hosting	Batch jobs, microservices, LLM fine tuning
Resource Usage	Higher resource consumption due to continuous operation	Resource efficient, runs only when needed
Scalability	Can be scaled to handle increased load	Efficient for short-lived tasks
Management	Suitable for applications needing constant availability	Ideal for scheduled or triggered tasks