Exploring Server-less Architecture and Programmable Infrastructure

In their talk at ElixirConf EU 2024, Markus Kuhnt and Alexey Nikitin dive into the concept of server-less architecture and their company's journey with programmable infrastructure. They introduce their company, Starfish, which provides services in the payment, banking, and fintech industries. Their product, Hellgate, facilitates payment orchestration, and they’ve developed a server-less extension to enhance its capabilities. Markus and Alexey discuss the complexity of creating a secure restricted runtime environment for executing third-party code using the BEAM ecosystem. They cover challenges, such as the risks of Elixir's powerful compile-time features, and the steps they have taken to mitigate these issues. They also touch on the benefits of using the BEAM for elasticity and high adoption of customized needs. Lastly, the presentation hints at upcoming releases and the open-sourcing of some of their server-less solutions.