Thread

1. Normal_gaussian · 1790802926 · focus · HN ↗

   I've been using SlicerVM extensively - which is Firecracker MicroVMs for the regular person (and for the irregular with their platform offering) - to run local 'edge' style workloads locally and securly. Agents, local dev CI, etc. It slotted in and replaced my proxmox vm orchestrator, and now I have secure and and fast vms on my laptop wherever I go. It also supports dockerfile style builds if you're wanting a security upgrade from containers (which, you should if you're using agents).

   Honestly, while I see firecracker replacing docker on the horizon I don't see firecracker replacing v8 isolates for most edge function execution. Firstly, this article's scenario is a bit unusual in that they were using someone else's isolates - so adding on a few hops; secondly isolates running JS/TS can be statically analyzed quite well, and at scale looking historically for issues and exploits, in many edge compute scenarios this is quite desirable. MicroVMs can have an awful lot more flexibility so to get the same benefit you have to really lock down what is available - the trade-offs for mid-size companies seems to benefit isolates. Obviously netlify is more than big enough and relies heavily on this that it leans in their favour.

   1. jst1fthsdys · 1790803807 · focus · HN ↗

      25 USD/m to run a daemon on my own hardware. Yikes.

      1. QGQBGdeZREunxLe · 1790806896 · focus · HN ↗

         I think Alex learned his lesson offering a free version running OpenFaaS.

         1. alexellisuk · 1790845871 · focus · HN ↗

            The world: "build a secure, enterprise-ready microVM automation solution - work on it full time, and pay salaries for the staff that work on it"

            Also: it has to be free.

            So yes you're right, people confuse VC backed companies, and vibe-coded pet-projects for sustainable software.

            SlicerVM was started in 2022 and internal only, plenty of YouTube videos and such about it - written completely manually from our Actuated work.

            There's a free trial for anyone who wants to play about on their Mac or Linux computer, the comment here is from a real user (unprompted) that knew and used free alternatives previously.

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