SageMarker
TO-DO
- Model Monitoring?
 - Model Deployment
- Endpoints: Deploy trained models to fully managed endpoints for real-time predictions.
 - Multi-Model Endpoints: Serve multiple models from a single endpoint, optimizing cost and management overhead.
 - Serverless Inference: Deploy models without managing infrastructure, perfect for intermittent or unpredictable traffic patterns.
 
 
Machine learning workflow
Purpose:
- Specifically designed for machine learning (ML) workflows.
 - Integrates deeply with SageMaker and other AWS ML services.
 
Features:
- Built-in ML Components: Pre-built steps for common ML tasks (e.g., data processing, training, model evaluation).
 - Pipeline Structure: Define ML workflows using a series of steps, such as data preprocessing, training, and model deployment.
 - Versioning: Tracks versions of pipelines, steps, and artifacts.
 - Automation: Automates end-to-end ML workflows, from data ingestion to model deployment.
 - Integration with SageMaker: Seamless integration with SageMaker's training, tuning, and hosting services.
 - Optimization: Built to optimize ML-specific tasks, providing easy management and monitoring of ML experiments.
 
Example Use Case:
- Automating the entire ML lifecycle, including data preprocessing, model training, hyperparameter tuning, and deployment within the SageMaker environment.
 
AWS Step Functions
Purpose:
- General-purpose orchestration service for coordinating the components of distributed applications and microservices.
 - Not limited to ML workflows.
 
Features:
- Flexibility: Can coordinate any AWS service, custom service, or third-party service.
 - State Machines: Define workflows as state machines with states like Pass, Fail, Wait, Choice, Parallel, and Map.
 - Error Handling: Built-in error handling, retry logic, and conditional branching.
 - Integration: Integrates with a wide range of AWS services, including Lambda, ECS, DynamoDB, SNS, SQS, and more.
 - Visual Workflow: Provides a visual interface to design and monitor workflows.
 
Example Use Case:
- Orchestrating complex workflows that might include data processing, invoking APIs, managing data pipelines, and integrating multiple AWS services.
 
Key Differences
| Feature | SageMaker Pipelines | AWS Step Functions | 
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Machine Learning | General-purpose workflow orchestration | 
| Integration | Deep integration with SageMaker services | Broad integration across AWS services | 
| Pre-built Steps | ML-specific steps (e.g., training, tuning) | Generic steps for various use cases | 
| Workflow Definition | Step-based ML workflows | State machine-based workflows | 
| Error Handling & Branching | Basic support | Advanced error handling and conditional branching | 
| Versioning | Yes, with focus on ML artifacts | No inherent versioning for workflows | 
| Use Cases | End-to-end ML lifecycle automation | Orchestration of diverse applications and services | 
Choosing the Right Tool
- 
Use SageMaker Pipelines if:
- You are focused on building and automating ML workflows.
 - You need tight integration with SageMaker's ML capabilities.
 - You want built-in components for common ML tasks.
 
 - 
Use AWS Step Functions if:
- You need to orchestrate a variety of AWS services or custom services.
 - Your workflow includes non-ML tasks or services.
 - You require advanced workflow control with error handling and branching.
 
 
Both services can be used together in scenarios where you need the specific ML capabilities of SageMaker Pipelines within a broader application workflow managed by Step Functions.
Example Diagrams
SageMaker Pipelines
AWS Step Functions
These diagrams illustrate how each tool can be used to define a workflow, with SageMaker Pipelines focused on ML steps and Step Functions providing a more flexible orchestration capability.