AWS Lambda Gets Durable Execution: Native Checkpoint and Replay Without Step Functions

AWS Lambda now includes durable execution, enabling developers to handle complex asynchronous workflows directly within function code rather than splitting logic between Lambda and Step Functions. This feature automatically checkpoints progress, eliminates costly retries from the beginning, and allows functions to wait up to a year without incurring compute charges—a significant cost and complexity reduction for approval processes, webhooks, and scheduled delays.