What is BaaS (Backend as a Service)?
Behind every web or mobile application, there is an array of backend services that are meant to support the frontend consumers are using and seeing every day. However, the amount of work required to create and manage this backend is never simple and straightforward.
At the same time, most of the business organizations want to save themselves the money and time required to redevelop the wheel from scratch every time. That’s why they are preferring to go with an effective Backend as a Service solution to get the things done effectively.
Do you want to know more about Backend as a Service or BaaS? Let’s have a look at a detailed overview of BaaS below:
What is BaaS?
Backend as a Service also known as BaaS is providing organizations cloud-based solutions to cater to the backend processes in the best possible way.
Backend as a Service is simply a way to connect your web and mobile applications to the pre-written cloud-based services. Rather than utilizing a mobile middleware, Backend as a Service is developing a unified API and SDK (Software Development Kit). These can help in connecting mobile applications to backend processes such as cloud storage, authentication, etc.
Backend as a Service can offer key features such as social networking integration, push notifications, user management, and location service.
A comparison of Mobile middleware and Backend as a Service
Generally, Backend as a Service is different as compared to conventional mobile middleware. This all is just because of a simple backend processing approach, or even how the backend and frontend of the applications are being connected.
- Typically, mobile middleware is being used to integrate backend services to the frontend of an application via an on-premises server. This application approach will require you to set up and maintain your personal hardware.
- However, in the case of Backend as a Service, it takes the cloud way to offer the same services that are available via mobile middleware but via using an off-site data center.
Key Features of Backend as a Service
Most of the BaaS providers are offering a wider range of additional functionalities to provide ease and convenience to their users. However, here we have enlisted key features that are appealing for the needs of advanced businesses. But keep in mind that these may vary in terms of purpose and scope between different providers.
However, some of the basic features that almost every BaaS provider offers are including:
Social integration
This functionality is a must for the application that needs social collaboration. Because this can let you link your social profiles with apps. Upon these services’ authentication, you can integrate additional services such as social activity lists.
Push notifications
Push notifications are necessary to let your application interact with the user when the application is not launched actively. This feature can let you alert your users with any change in the app.
Search
Modern applications are coming up with enhanced content discovery capabilities. These are helping users to seek context-appropriate content. As search is still necessary, therefore, most of the providers are offering this feature too.
App management
Applications are being designed to access different information and data sets, which users don’t have full access to. Managing the functionality of apps will help developers disable functionality areas on the basis of device types, user permissions, and so on.
Visual development
From a frontend perspective, this is the most common feature. In this, BaaS providers offer visual development controls to the developers for their backend elements.
Application development and BaaS
BaaS moves to the application integration point successfully to the cloud. This is making the process to connect backend services easier to mobile applications. This is a dramatic departure from the traditional development approach that requires application developers to integrate every backend API separately.
This is allowing developers to connect frontend elements of their applications to the backend elements seamlessly with fewer resource requirements. BaaS use can let the developers get rid of constructing their backends. A typical BaaS provider can offer ready-made and customizable backend features outfitted with most of the apps today.
- The main objective of this service is to shift the focus of developers away from backend complexities and to invest more time and effort in frontend development.
- Another benefit of BaaS is its scalability. This can help the developers in staying stress-free from increased app resources demand web traffic.
Audience of BaaS
BaaS is being used for both indie developers and enterprises. In each case, individuals are seeking out BaaS to ease mobile application development complexities. BaaS can also solve the cross-platform development problem and learn the required skills for backend processing.
If a developer is experienced in JavaScript only on the client-side and wants to develop applications, then he can get help from BaaS. Developers can easily utilize BaaS solutions to develop applications without investing any efforts in learning backend development.
The downside of Backend as a Service
Even though BaaS is offering various benefits ranging from comprehensive features integration to focusing more on frontend development, BaaS as a whole is containing an inherent downside.
Vendor lock-in is the major problem here that developers encounter. Also, even the service providers say that developers can migrate their applications whenever and wherever they want, but the technology proves that migrating code that is connecting the frontend with the backend is pretty difficult.
Because the backend elements are not going to move to the new platform, which means developers have to recreate these connecting elements.
BaaS providers
The Backend as a Service market is growing rapidly in size. However, the few contenders are at the top of the list in this market. Companies such as Back4app, Firebase, Parse, Backendless, etc. are speeding up the processes of app development by shifting the focus of developers from backend to frontend.
Overall, BaaS is changing the way developers used to develop and manage applications by providing read-made backend services. Ultimately, these are helping developers in saving their time while focusing more on improving user experience with their apps.
