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WeAreDevelopers LIVE • Jun 7, 2023

What the Heck is Edge Computing Anyway?

Austin Gil

Austin Gill reveals how edge computing beats the ultimate web bottleneck: the speed of light. Learn to slash latency by executing dynamic logic closer to your users.

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#1 about 2 min

Introduction to edge computing and globally distributed serverless functions

Distributing serverless functions globally enables handling requests incredibly close to end users.

#2 about 4 min

Generating HTML within traditional server computing environments

Traditional servers offer predictable pricing and unbound runtimes alongside notable hardware maintenance drawbacks.

#3 about 3 min

Offloading HTML generation with client-side rendering

Executing logic inside the browser reduces server load and natively enables progressive web apps.

#4 about 3 min

Pre-building assets using static site generators

Generating files ahead of time allows for immediate global delivery through content delivery networks.

#5 about 6 min

Routing traffic to stateless cloud functions

Deploying stateless business logic allows cloud providers to automatically manage underlying infrastructure and scaling.

#6 about 4 min

Distributing data through edge network content delivery

Caching static files on globally distributed servers significantly reduces roundtrip network latency for users.

#7 about 3 min

Understanding network performance and the speed of light

Geographic distance creates a permanent physical limitation on network latency and baseline user experience.

#8 about 3 min

Improving user experience through dynamic edge runtime

Running globally distributed server-side logic directly between clients and source servers improves system responsiveness.

#9 about 2 min

Developer and operational benefits of edge architectures

Stateless edge functions provide highly consistent execution environments while simultaneously reducing central infrastructure costs.

#10 about 2 min

Limitations and missing features in edge compute platforms

Application architecture must accommodate inherent constraints around available memory, execution time, and raw network protocols.

#11 about 4 min

Designing proper architectural logic to avoid data waterfalls

Properly analyzing proxy operations and sequential requests prevents unintended routing loops and distance overhead.

#12 about 4 min

Implementing common integration patterns within edge compute architectures

Modifying the request cycle efficiently handles dynamic advertisements, complex geolocation logic, and stateless authorization checks.

#13 about 3 min

Measuring financial impact of improved site performance

Investing in rigorous network load time optimization can yield extraordinary profitability and raw conversion improvements.

#14 about 3 min

Leveraging Akamai edge workers for broad geographic scale

Akamai edge platforms provide an expansive node structure alongside specialized lifecycle integration hooks and robust security capabilities.

#15 about 2 min

Closing thoughts and educational resources for edge network engineering

Cloud infrastructure credits and dedicated community channels offer excellent avenues for expanding knowledge on global application engineering.

Matching moments

4:45 min

Rethinking web framework architecture for edge server environments

Daniel Roe · WWC 2023

1:52 min

Leveraging jamstack and edge computing for frontend delivery

Michael Bromley · WWC 2022

1:30 min

Reducing server load and latency with edge computing architectures

Lorenzo Pieri · LIVE

2:25 min

Directing user traffic rapidly using geographic edge computing

Josh Goldberg · WWC 2021

1:19 min

Moving static deployments toward modern edge environment capabilities

Josh Goldberg · WWC 2021

1:50 min

Overview of the Edge AI ecosystem and tech stack

Maxim Salnikov Maxim Salnikov · WWC 2025

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