5x faster Edge Functions: v8 isolates to Firecracker MicroVMs
Summary
Netlify reveals a migration of Edge Functions from V8 isolates to Firecracker MicroVMs, delivering median warm latency of 5–6 ms and 5x faster performance. The architecture uses Unikraft, per-service MicroVMs, and smart caching to keep requests local, improve security isolation, and scale compute entirely within Netlify’s edge network without API changes for developers. It also discusses operational gains like local DNS, richer metrics, and new throughput ceilings.