Backend Banter

#061 - Forget SQL, use Typescript feat. Thomas Ballinger

Jul 8, 2024

Thomas Ballinger, Developer at Convex, talks about using TypeScript instead of SQL, Convex's competition, building scalable systems, advantages of Rust, cheap abstractions, productivity, backend architecture, TypeScript for application logic, and potential support for other languages at Convex.

01:00:28

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Episode guests

Thomas Ballinger

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Convex utilizes Rust and TypeScript for databases, focusing on performance and query planning.

Scalable systems require strategic planning and balance between deployment speed and future scalability.

TypeScript enhances database query safety and developer experience, enabling early error detection and potential language expansion.

Deep dives

The Technical Features of Convex Database and its Implementation in Rust

The podcast discusses the technical intricacies of Convex, a database focusing on live updates and features like reactivity and caching validation, built in Rust. Thomas Ballinger, a Rust developer, shares insights about their identity transition to Rust developers and their experiences with Convex's features.

Intro

3min

Optimizing SQL Query Planning with Convex for Improved Backend Performance

17min

The Decision to Use Rust as a Systems Level Language at Dropbox

2min

Programming Languages for Database Implementations

8min

Scalability and Backend Architecture

11min

Benefits of Using TypeScript for Application Logic

18min

Exploring TypeScript LSP support in the browser

2min

Today we bring Thomas Ballinger, a developer at Convex, an open-source backend for application builders. We will be discussing mainly databases, and why at Convex they use Rust and Typescript.

We'll also talk about systems scalability, infrastructure and go over different practices regarding abstractions

Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.dev

Listen on your favorite podcast player: https://www.backendbanter.fm

Convex: https://www.convex.dev/

Thomas' X/Twitter: https://x.com/ballingt

Thomas' Website: https://ballingt.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:33 Thomas' background

02:29 Convex - what it is and why should you use it?

03:16 What are query planners?

06:32 SQL is a very high level language

07:43 The primary differentiator of Convex

10:49 Who are Convex's biggest competitors?

14:20 How do you build the infrastructure

17:11 What type of database is Convex?

19:18 Why is Convex written in Rust?

23:35 Cheap abstractions

25:47 Productivity suffering from compile times

29:47 The different approaches for a backend developer to build scalable systems

32:28 Backend for Frontend

37:21 You want to be close to your data

42:13 Are there plans to support other languages at Convex?

47:06 Does the schema update the autocompletion in the editor

48:31 Naming and behavior of the queries with Convex

51:06 Why sqlc is great

52:28 Why TypeScript is a great "shortcut" for Convex

59:34 Where to find Thomas

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Backend Banter

#061 - Forget SQL, use Typescript feat. Thomas Ballinger

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Technical Features of Convex Database and its Implementation in Rust

Challenges and Solutions in Query Planning and Building Scalable Systems

Strategic Architectural Planning and Backend Development Approaches

Querying Data and Latency Considerations

TypeScript Queries and Code Generation

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts