Distributed Systems
Azure Serverless Inventory Management System
Advanced serverless ERP-like inventory management workflow using Microsoft Azure Functions, demonstrating cloud computing, Function-as-a-Service architecture, and distributed system design principles
Serverless Architecture • Cloud Computing • Performance Analysis • FaaS
Course Information & Project Scope
COMP3211 - Distributed Systems, University of Leeds
Course Details
Module: COMP3211 - Distributed Systems
Institution: University of Leeds
Year: 2024/25 (Year 3)
Assessment: Coursework 2 (25% weight)
Focus: Serverless Architecture & Performance
Learning Outcomes
LO1: Design high-level distributed system frameworks
LO2: Implement distributed designs with middleware tools
Platform: Microsoft Azure Functions
Language: Python runtime environment
Evaluation: Performance and scalability analysis
Project Walkthrough
System Demo: A comprehensive walkthrough of the Azure Serverless Inventory Management System, demonstrating the HTTP triggers, Cosmos DB integration, and performance testing results.
Serverless Architecture & Azure Functions
Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) implementation with event-driven workflow
Azure Functions Workflow
HTTP Trigger Functions
Product input processing, database reset operations, user authentication
Cosmos DB Triggers
Database change tracking, automatic stock monitoring, event-driven processing
Queue Integration
Asynchronous message processing, decoupled workflow execution
ERP Inventory Management
Core Features
- • Real-time inventory tracking and updates
- • Automated stock threshold monitoring
- • Product validation and error handling
- • Multi-product batch processing
Business Logic
- • Stock depletion prevention algorithms
- • Duplicate product detection systems
- • Comprehensive input validation frameworks
- • Scalable database operations
Cloud Integration & Technical Implementation
Comprehensive Azure ecosystem integration with advanced middleware
Azure Services
- • Azure Functions (Python runtime)
- • Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL)
- • Azure Storage Queues
- • Azure Functions Core Tools
- • Azurite local emulation
- • Visual Studio Code integration
External Integration
- • SendGrid Email API
- • SMTP notification system
- • RESTful API endpoints
- • JSON data serialization
- • Environment configuration
- • Secure credential management
Development Tools
- • Python 3.8+ ecosystem
- • Git version control
- • Local development environment
- • Azure Functions extension
- • Function testing framework
- • Performance monitoring tools
Performance Analysis & Scalability Testing
Comprehensive evaluation of serverless workflow performance metrics
Performance Metrics
Runtime Analysis
- • Function execution time measurement
- • Cold start vs warm start performance
- • Database operation latency
- • End-to-end workflow timing
Resource Consumption
- • CPU utilization monitoring
- • Memory usage optimization
- • Network I/O performance
- • Storage operation efficiency
Scalability Investigation
Function Invocation Testing
Systematic increase in concurrent function calls to test scalability limits
Load Distribution Analysis
Assessment of workflow performance under varying load conditions
Serverless Advantages
Evaluation of auto-scaling, fault tolerance, and operational simplicity
Advanced Features & Technical Innovation
Sophisticated serverless patterns and distributed system design
Event-Driven Architecture
Database Change Triggers
- • Cosmos DB change feed monitoring
- • Automatic low-stock alert generation
- • Real-time inventory threshold tracking
- • Event-sourced notification system
Email Notification System
- • SendGrid API integration
- • Automated stock alert emails
- • Configurable threshold settings
- • Professional notification formatting
Robust Error Handling
Input Validation
Comprehensive JSON parsing, data type checking, and business rule validation
Exception Management
Graceful error handling with detailed logging and user-friendly responses
Data Integrity
Transaction safety, duplicate detection, and consistent state management
Project Documentation
Coursework brief and implementation requirements
Academic Excellence in Distributed Systems
This advanced coursework demonstrates comprehensive understanding of serverless architectures, cloud computing principles, and distributed system design. The Azure Functions implementation showcases practical application of Function-as-a-Service concepts with performance analysis and scalability evaluation essential for modern cloud development careers.