Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner
We are excited to announce that the Node.js 14.x runtime is now available for developing AWS Lambda functions. This version marks the current Long Term Support (LTS) release of Node.js. Developers can start utilizing this new runtime by specifying a parameter value of nodejs14.x while creating or updating their functions, or by utilizing the suitable managed runtime base image.
Enhancements in Language Features
Node.js 14 brings several significant updates that enhance functionality and performance:
- Updated V8 Engine: The runtime is powered by V8 version 8.1, a major upgrade from the V8 7.4 engine used in Node.js 12.x. This upgrade introduces performance improvements and new features, including:
- Nullish Coalescing (??): This logical operator returns the right-hand operand when the left-hand operand is either null or undefined. For example,
const newVersion = null ?? 'this works great'; console.log(newVersion); // expected output: "this works great". - Optional Chaining (?.): This operator allows accessing a property’s value within a chain without validating each reference. This simplifies the code significantly, for instance,
if (player?.superpower?.value) { /* do something */ }. - Diagnostic Reporting: Node.js 14 introduces stable diagnostic reporting, enabling developers to generate JSON-formatted reports on demand or when specific events occur. This feature aids in diagnosing performance issues and unexpected errors.
- Example:
const report = process.report.getReport(); console.log(typeof report === 'object'); // true - Updated Node Streams: The streams API has undergone enhancements to streamline behaviors across various parts of Node.js, improving overall clarity and usability.
Runtime Security and Updates
AWS ensures that the Node.js 14 runtime is kept secure by applying all minor updates released by the Node.js community when utilizing the zip archive format. For those deploying Lambda functions as container images, it is crucial to pull, rebuild, and deploy the latest base image from DockerHub or Amazon ECR Public.
Deprecation Notice
Please note that Node.js 10 will reach its end of life on April 30, 2021, as per the community’s deprecation schedule. After this date, creating new Node.js 10 Lambda functions will not be permitted, and updates will be disabled after May 28, 2021. For more information on this, refer to the runtime support policy.
Migrating existing Node.js 12 functions to the new runtime is straightforward: make any necessary code adjustments for compatibility with Node.js 14 and change the function’s runtime configuration to “nodejs14.x”. Lambda functions utilizing Node.js 14 will enjoy a comprehensive support period of two years.
Amazon Linux 2 as the Foundation
The Node.js 14 managed runtime is built on the Amazon Linux 2 execution environment, providing a secure, stable, and high-performance platform for cloud and enterprise applications.
Getting Started
To begin leveraging Node.js 14, specify a runtime parameter value of nodejs14.x when creating your Lambda functions using zip archive packaging. Alternatively, you can deploy your function code as a container image with the Node.js 14 AWS base image for Lambda. For further insights on writing functions in Node.js 14, check out the AWS Lambda documentation.
For existing Node.js functions, update to the new runtime by altering the function’s runtime configuration to nodejs14.x. Happy coding with Node.js 14!
If you are interested in exploring broader topics related to career development, you might find this blog post on crafting a resignation letter useful, which can be found here. Additionally, for those looking to understand job descriptions more deeply, SHRM provides excellent authority on the subject. Should you be considering job opportunities, take a look at this Area Manager position to see if it aligns with your career goals.