AWS has released Amazon ECS Express Mode, bringing a simplified process to deploying containerised web applications and APIs. Express Mode lets users deploy production-ready services in one shot, bypassing the usual detail required around ancillary requirements such as IAM roles, load-balancers and scaling.
In an announcement from AWS, Principal Developer Advocate Donnie Prakoso explains that users can deploy production-ready services by providing a container image, a task execution IAM role and an infrastructure IAM role. The system then create all necessary infrastructure components including Application Load Balancer (ALB) with HTTPS support, and any necessary auto-scaling and domain name provisioning. All of the resulting resources remain within the user’s AWS account for full visibility and control.
Prakoso explains that ECS Express Mode enables users to create cloud architectures for their applications while keeping full control over their infrastructure resources. The service is targeted at developers who need to deploy quickly and without the baggage of the underlying infrastructure. The service enables developers to deploy public and private HTTPS applications which automatically scale based on traffic patterns, and up to 25 Express Mode services can run under a single Application Load Balancer if their networking settings are compatible with each other. ALBs are configured with health checks and auto-scaling policies, and the networking and monitoring setup is all automated. Users maintain complete access to all AWS resources which they can configure directly. Users do not need to pay any additional fees for Express Mode, only needing to pay for the AWS resources their application uses. The service operates only with Fargate, not with ECS, and doesn't support blue-green deployment.
The community response has been positive, with commenters appreciating the ability to deploy APIs and internal tools quickly through this service. Multiple users have described Express Mode as an "easy button" for ECS because it simplifies the process of deploying containerised services with TLS encryption and routing and scaling and ALB configuration.
Looking at other similar services from other providers, Google Cloud Run and Azure Container Apps function as PaaS platforms that hide infrastructure details. Google Cloud Run provides users with zero-scaling capabilities and minimal infrastructure needs and automatic HTTPS activation. Azure Container Apps runs on top of Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) to deliver features which include revision management and event-based triggers and Dapr framework support. The platform provides higher infrastructure abstraction than ECS yet keeps application-level configuration options available. Azure Container Apps enables serverless autoscaling with the ability to scale to zero. The three platforms differ in their approach with Google Cloud Run offering basic autoscaling but limited control and Azure Container Apps attempting a balance between simplicity and advanced features.
A post by Tanushree Aggarwal for AWS Community Builders predicts that Express Mode will not replace App Runner services but it will make deployment easier for small teams who used to select App Runner or create basic ECS configurations. Aggarwal explains that developers must plan their application growth because at some point they will need to transition to advanced ECS workflows when they require specific deployment strategies, service meshes and detailed networking capabilities. He praised the reduced need for boilerplate code but they remain concerned about losing advanced functionality.
AWS Express Mode includes complete control and full visibility, and an ability to transition to complex systems when needed. The current deployment strategies for high-level operations are however not integrated into the system and the ALB sharing restrictions might create problems for teams operating multiple services. ECS Express Mode is available now in all AWS Regions where ECS is supported.