Trevor Turk and Matt discuss the emergence and implications of GraphQL, its impact on team communication, handling large data and nested queries, debunking GraphQL terminology, using GraphQL as an add-on to REST, tricking product managers, opinions on GraphQL and testing practices, and reflections on the software as a craft movement and the value of test-driven development.
GraphQL provides front-end developers with more power and flexibility by giving them access to a wide range of data through a self-documenting API.
GraphQL originated from Facebook's need to improve the performance of their mobile app, offering a more efficient and flexible way to query data.
GraphQL acts as a bridge between backend and frontend teams, promoting closer collaboration, faster development cycles, and reducing the reliance on extensive API documentation.
Deep dives
The Benefits of GraphQL for Frontend Developers
GraphQL provides front-end developers with more power and flexibility by giving them access to a wide range of data through a self-documenting API. This empowers them to make changes and iterate faster without having to rely on backend developers for every modification. The isolated and self-contained nature of GraphQL fields makes it easier to reason about and test individual components, enhancing developer productivity. Additionally, GraphQL allows front-end developers to request only the data they need, which is especially useful when integrating with third-party APIs to avoid unnecessary network requests and improve performance. While GraphQL may not be the default standard for all APIs, it offers valuable benefits for front-end development.
The Origin and Evolution of GraphQL
GraphQL originated from Facebook's need to improve the performance of their mobile app, which was experiencing slowdowns due to data inefficiencies. The idea was to create an alternative to REST APIs that could efficiently handle nested, interconnected, hierarchical data. GraphQL quickly gained popularity among developers, providing a more efficient and flexible way to query data. While it has not become the dominant API technology, GraphQL has found a place in the industry, with major companies such as GitHub and Shopify utilizing its capabilities.
Empowering Frontend Developers with GraphQL
GraphQL empowers frontend developers by giving them direct access to a wide range of backend data through a self-documented API. This eliminates the need for backend developers to create separate endpoints for every frontend requirement, allowing frontend developers to build and iterate faster. The modularization of GraphQL fields makes it easier to reason about and test individual components, enabling frontend developers to have more confidence in their code changes. By using GraphQL, frontend developers can request the exact data they need, avoiding unnecessary network requests and improving performance. Overall, GraphQL provides frontend developers with more power, flexibility, and control over their applications.
The Role of GraphQL in Backend-frontend Collaboration
GraphQL acts as a bridge between backend and frontend teams, encouraging closer collaboration and smoother communication. With GraphQL, frontend developers can more easily understand the backend data model and structure, which helps bridge the gap between the two teams. It allows frontend developers to make changes and develop new features without relying heavily on backend developers, promoting faster development cycles. Additionally, GraphQL's self-documenting nature aids in the documentation and understanding of the backend API, reducing the need for extensive API documentation. While backend-for-frontend (BFF) patterns existed, the flexibility and self-serve nature of GraphQL allow frontend developers to work more independently, improving overall team efficiency.
The Future of GraphQL
While GraphQL may not completely replace REST APIs, it is here to stay due to its ease of use, flexibility, and benefits for frontend development. GraphQL has established itself as a valuable tool in integration scenarios and situations where frontend developers require more control and power over data fetching. While it may not be the default choice for every project, GraphQL will continue to provide a viable alternative and add value to the development community.
Matt and Trevor talk about GraphQL and try to answer the question "do we need it?" (Bonus hot takes on VCR snapshot testing)
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