Techniques for performing continuation workflows by terminating virtual machine based on response time exceeding threshold

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions that, as a result of being executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to at least:

• cause a first virtual machine instance to execute function code to perform a first portion of a workflow without user input, the performing of the first portion resulting in:
• submission of an operation request to an entity based at least in part on determining that continued performance of the workflow requires one or more data processing operations by the entity to generate a response associated with the workflow for the continued performance of the workflow, the first virtual machine instance being hosted on a server of an event driven, serverless computing system provided as a service by a computing resource service provider, and
• determining that a time to complete the one or more data processing operations by the entity exceeds a threshold, and in response, determining to terminate the first virtual machine instance that would otherwise be waiting idle until a response to the operation request is received;
• terminate the first virtual machine instance including exiting and relinquishing computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance, the terminating is in response to:
• a determination that the computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance can be suspended until the entity completes an action of the one or more data processing operations to continue the workflow,
• the determination that the time to complete the one or more data processing operations by the entity exceeds the threshold, and
• the determination to terminate the first virtual machine instance that would otherwise be waiting idle until the response to the operation request is received;
• receive, from the entity, a resume workflow request that includes a handle that comprises a reference to a snapshot that corresponds to:
• a state of execution of the workflow, and
• a state of execution of the function code for performing a second portion of the workflow;
• cause without user input, a second virtual machine instance to perform the second portion of the workflow using:
• the reference to the snapshot,
• the state of execution of the workflow, and
• the response to the operation request, the second virtual machine instance being hosted on the event driven, serverless computing system provided as a service by the computing resource service provider;
• and
• receive, from another entity, another resume workflow request that includes another handle that comprises another reference to another snapshot that corresponds to another state of execution of the function code for performing a third portion of the workflow.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, as a result of being executed, cause the one or more processors to:
• cause a first virtual machine instance to execute function code to perform a first portion of a workflow without user input, the performing of the first portion resulting in:
• submission of an operation request to an entity based at least in part on determining that continued performance of the workflow requires one or more data processing operations by the entity to generate a response associated with the workflow for the continued performance of the workflow, the first virtual machine instance being hosted on a server of an event driven, serverless computing system provided as a service by a computing resource service provider, and
• determining that a time to complete the one or more data processing operations exceeds a threshold, and in response, determining to terminate the first virtual machine instance that would otherwise be waiting until a response is received from the entity;
• terminate the first virtual machine instance including deallocating computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance so that the computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance are made available to be used by another virtual machine instance that is different than the first virtual machine instance, the terminating is in response to:
• a determination that the computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance can be suspended until the entity completes an action of the one or more data processing operations to continue the workflow, and
• terminating is in response to:
• a determination that the computing resources allocated to the first virtual machine instance can be suspended until the entity completes an action of the one or more data processing operations to continue the workflow,
• the determination that the time to complete the one or more data processing operations exceeds the threshold, and
• the determination to terminate the first virtual machine instance that would otherwise be waiting idle until the response to the operation request is obtained;
• receive, from the entity, a resume workflow request that includes a handle that comprises a reference to a snapshot that corresponds to:
• a state of execution of the workflow, and
• a state of execution of the function code for performing a second portion of the workflow;
• cause, without user input, a second virtual machine instance to perform the second portion of the workflow using:
• the reference to the snapshot,
• the state of execution of the workflow, and
• the response to the operation request, the second virtual machine instance being hosted on the event driven, serverless computing system;
• and
• receive, from another entity, another resume workflow request that includes another handle that comprises another reference to another snapshot that corresponds to another state of execution of the function code for performing a third portion of the workflow.