For a single developer or a small team, creating a full-stack web application that includes a backend can be an overwhelming task. Over the past few years, a number of solutions have entered the market that lessen this challenge but none beats the services of Nhost.
How would you explain Nhost to a newbie?
Nhost is a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) with instant GraphQL API for mobile and web app development.
Would you like to create a full-stack app with a back-end that is handled by a cloud service? Sounds good, right? Nhost is that solution for you.
Nhost is easily configurable and swiftly integrated with front-end technologies like ReactJS, Next.js, Vue.js, Svelte and Flutter.
Getting Started with Nhost
Nhost is quite easy to use; you just need to sign up using your GitHub credentials or your email address.
You can authorize Nhost with GitHub by signing up for an account with GitHub, which will open a new window below.
After signing up with your preferred sign up option visit https://nhost.io to log into the Nhost app.
Nhost offers a preset workspace where you can begin working on your projects. Additional workplaces can be made if needed. To start a new project, click the create your first project button.
To create a new project you must provide:
- The project name.
- The workplace where it will be created.
- The password.
- The region.
- The plan.
Select the area where your users will experience the fastest speed. A free access package has been provided by Nhost. Nevertheless, you can choose a premium plan based on your requirements. Then click on the create project button.
What are Nhost Services?
Nhost manages thousands of web and mobile backends for developers and the core Nhost backend services are as follows:
- Postgres Database.
- Instant GraphQL API with Hasura.
- Authentication.
- Storage.
- Serverless Functions.
- GitHub code Integration.
Nhost is the backend equivalent of what Netlify and Vercel are for the frontend. With the help of services in the backend, many developers have grown to prefer pushing code and letting the platform handle deployment automatically.
Postgres Database
A Postgres database is included with every Nhost project you build. Postgres is an open source relational database that is frequently used in app development. You don’t need to install, maintain, or set-up this database if you’re an application developer. Nhost takes care of it automatically. kindly read up the database guide.
The Hasura console can be used to manage the database, and SQL queries can be used to interact with the data. You can add relationships and modify permissions because the connection with the database is seamless.
Instant GraphQL API with Hasura
GraphQL API with HasuraI is a powerful query language for APIs. To query and update data, developers prefer using GraphQL over conventional REST standards, which speeds up development. It could be overwhelming to create GraphQL APIs from scratch, but Nhost makes it simple for you by providing the APIs readily available automatically and instantly depending on the database tables.
GraphQL clients like Apollo client, React Query and SWR can integrate effectively with the backend application. Nhost JavaScript client comes with a GraphQL that works well in backend applications. You can read more on the GraphQL API with this Nhost guide.
Authentication
As a backend developer you will want to safeguard your data with a strong permissions system and legitimate access. It takes a lot of work to build these on your own and integrate them with the API layer. The GraphQL API and the Hasura authorization system are both easily integrated with Nhost authentication, which offers a number of sign-in methods which will be enabled by the developer.
The auth.users table in your database receives the information about new users when they register or are created. You can read more on the Nhost Auth guide and how it works.
Storage
As a developer you may want your users to upload files like documents, pictures and videos. To keep and search these files, you might have to choose a media or storage provider. Hold on! Nhost automatically gives you this storage feature.
Nhost storage enables developers to upload, download, and manage files using GraphQL APIs. Follow this guide to read more on Nhost storage.
Serverless Functions
Serverless functions tasks involve custom code that is executed in the cloud. Numerous use cases exist for serverless functions, including initiating events, submitting forms, interacting with payment gateways, and many more.
Nhost allows developers to deploy code in JavaScript or TypeScript. And the code file is saved in the files (.js/.ts) functions/ folder of your Nhost project. You can have an overview below of serverless function code.
import
{ Request, Response } from ‘express’export default (req: Request, res: Response) => {res.status(200).send(`Hello ${req.query.name}!`)}
Follow this guide to read more on Nhost serverless function.
GitHub code Integration
The GitHub code integration allows you to deploy your Nhost project to your GitHub repository When you perform the push and merge functions.
When you push code to a GitHub repository that is linked to a Nhost project, Nhost instantly deploys the updated code. Follow this GitHub Doc to read more on the GitHub integration.
How to use the Nhost storage feature with GUI
Once you have created your project, the next page will be the project dashboard that contains all the Nhost features.
Follow the steps to manage the Nhost storage feature:
- Select the storage feature.
- Click on the upload button.
- Select the file you want to upload and click open.
- View the uploaded file in your storage menu.
Delete File
- Select the files.
- Click delete.
- Select delete to confirm deleting the file.
The Nhost features are quite simple to use. The navigation setup makes it the BaaS of choice for all developers of mobile and web applications.
Why Nhost BaaS (Backend as a service)?
Nhost does not just host your backend services which other BaaS does; Nhost primary goal is to help developers with their end-to-end issues with local development, deployments, preview environments, and other issues.
Nhost and some Competitors
When you don’t use Nhost for your backend you will encounter these overwhelming experiences:
1. Developing your own backend.
2. Combining different services to your own backend.
3. Nhost alternatives.
Developing your own backend
Creating your own backend needs extensive time and technical know-how in architecture, security, and maintainability. Even after spending weeks building up the backend for a mobile application, developers may still fail to offer anything of value to customers or the company.
Combining different services to your own backend
Another challenging option is to combine various services to your own backend, but this takes a lot of time because each service combination is unique. Although it makes sense in theory, it actually leads to isolated services with varying prices and SDKs.
Nhost Alternatives
Developers who don’t use Nhost may consider using other BaaS options to handle their backend services. Contemporary and open source rivals have started to emerge including,
A backend-as-a-service called Firebase enables programmers to create iOS, Android, and Web applications.
Firebase services includes:
- Realtime Database.
- File Storage.
- Authentication.
- Hosting.
- API integration.
- Serverless Functions.
- Open-source.
Supabase is a free, open-source alternative to Firebase that offers all the backend functionalities required to create a product.
Supabase services includes:
- Open source.
- Auto-generated API.
- Authentication.
- Serverless functions.
- File storage.
- PostgreSQL.
With 8base you can build and run cloud-based applications faster with GraphQL + MySQL + serverless backend-as-a-service. 8base is the best way to build, run and grow professional web and mobile applications that power your business with the following features.
- GraphQL API.
- Role-Based Security.
- Relational Database.
- Amazon Web Services.
- Access control.
- Serverless functions.
Appwrite is a self-hosted backend-as-a-service platform that provides developers with all the core APIs required to build web and mobile applications. Appwrite has the following BaaS features:
- Open-source.
- Real-time Database.
- Authentication.
- Storage.
- Functions.
- Security.
- Self hosting services ( Docker setup).
Nhost differs from each of these competitors in at least one of the following ways:
- Relational database (PostgreSQL).
- GraphQL API.
- Open source.
- Local development CLI.
- Serverless functions.
- RealTime API.
- Authentication.
- Storage.
- Database Migration.
- GitHub integration with automatic deployments to production.
Conclusion
In summary, Nhost offers you more BaaS services than other competitors. Nhost makes it easy for developers to deploy their projects and to manage their backend services, preview environments, and other issues. Nhost is easily configurable and swiftly integrated with front-end technologies.
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