I Surveyed the Top 10 Backend Frameworks Here's What I Found

While creating a new project one of the main things that clouds your mind is what framework you are going to use. Every framework has its own drawbacks and advantages we will be measuring these in this article.

The project I'm working on is called LiveAPI, which is a super convenient way to generate API documentation on a large scale. We are working to enable all web backend frameworks in LiveAPI for the creation of API documentation. We need to understand how  frameworks are implemented, how routes are managed, what files are involved, dependencies, etc., in order to build this feature.

I will try to explain all the things I learned on the way into this small comparison article. This article will help you choose a framework for your SaaS projects or learn a few new things from unknown frameworks you have never used.

Let's break down the frameworks based on their use cases. First, let's look into the popular ones. These frameworks have strong community support and scalability.

Most Popular General Frameworks for Novices and Experts

The framework should handle many backend tasks like routing, authentication, database integrations, templating, etc. There are only a few such frameworks:

• Django: Python framework
• Spring Boot: Java framework
• Ruby on Rails: Ruby programming

These frameworks are best for CRUD apps, SaaS Projects, and Restful APIs.

Django backend mainly comprises URLs, Views, and models. You need to have a good understanding of each of these to build good Django systems. URLs are used to design API routes. Views are used for API logic. And Models are for database integrations and creating migrations.

Instagram: Handles billions of user requests daily, showcasing Django's scalability. More on this HN thread.
Pinterest: Django is used for its rapid development and easy database integration.

Django is actively maintained and has great documentation along with a tutorial on how to get started.

Spring Boot simplifies Java backend development by providing a pre-configured setup. It's based on Controllers, Services, and Repositories. Controllers handle HTTP requests and routes. Services control the business logic flows. Repositories handle database operations. Check out the official spring documentation at spring.io.

Netflix: Manages its microservices architecture using Spring Boot's scalability and reliability. More on this Hackernews Discussion
Amazon Web Services (AWS): Uses Spring Boot for several internal services due to its flexibility and performance.

Ruby on Rails is called a convention-over-configuration framework . It emphasizes simplicity and readability mainly. It structures the backend around Models, Views, and Controllers (MVC), promoting DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principles. With features like scaffolding and built-in ORM (ActiveRecord), Rails makes it easy to develop database-driven applications quickly. Scaffolding means generating the code for a model, controller, views, routes, and even database migrations based on a single command.

Yes, Rails is awesomely fast to prototype in, and also excellent to build a long-term sustainable business.

GitHub: The world's largest code repository was initially built with Rails for its fast prototyping capabilities.
Shopify: Handles millions of online stores using Rails' robust database handling and templating features.

There are small frameworks ideal for APIs with flexibility and performance in mind. Let's look into some of them.

Microservice-Oriented Frameworks

These are lightweight frameworks designed to create salable microservices. Microservices are software composed of small independent services that communicate over well-defined APIs. These services are owned by small, self-contained teams.

• Flask (Python)
• Express.js (Node.js)
• FastAPI (Python)

Flask uses a lightweight design, and offers the flexibility to add extensions, making it a popular choice for small-scale microservices or APIs. Airbnb uses Flask for lightweight services that support its larger infrastructure.

Express.js is a minimal and fast Node.js framework for backend development. It’s highly extensible and often used in combination with other Node.js tools to build robust microservices. Its asynchronous architecture and middleware system are ideal for handling concurrent requests in a microservice.

Uber, PayPal uses Express.js for parts of its real-time dispatch systems.

FastAPI is a modern Python framework known for its performance and simplicity. It is based on standard Python-type hints. Using them, you get automatic data validation, serialization, and documentation. Including deeply nested JSON documents. And you get editor completion and checks everywhere. Designed around the OpenAPI (Swagger) and JSON Schema standards.

It includes 2 alternative interactive API documentation systems that are generated automatically. It's OAuth2 capable from the start (including JWT). Has a Dependency Injection system, compatible with all databases (relational and NoSQL), Websockets, GraphQL, CORS, etc.

Microsoft uses FastAPI for some internal machine learning services due to its speed and support for async requests.

Next, there are frameworks tailored for large-scale production with a focus on security, performance, and enterprise-level integrations.

Enterprise-Grade Frameworks

Here are some dependable enterprise ranges, designed for large-scale production frameworks. If you joined an MNC company then you are likely to work on some of these frameworks. Security is a major player in these scenarios. Data breaches can cost millions to the company.

• Spring Boot (Java)
• ASP.NET Core (C#)
• NestJS (Node.js)

ASP.NET Core is a modern, cross-platform framework from Microsoft designed for building web applications, APIs, and cloud-based systems.

Its performance and reliability make it a great choice for enterprise-grade systems. The framework supports dependency injection and has excellent integration with Azure for cloud solutions. It excels in performance and integration with Microsoft tools.

Dependency Injection in ASP.NET provides required objects (dependencies) to a class automatically, making the code simpler, modular, and easier to test.

Stack Overflow and Microsoft Teams Uses ASP.NET Core for its high-performance backend to serve millions of users.

NestJS is a progressive framework for Node.js that incorporates TypeScript for building efficient, reliable, and scalable server-side applications. Inspired by Angular’s architecture, NestJS uses decorators and modules to simplify development. Its support for microservices and GraphQL makes it a go-to choice for enterprise solutions in the JavaScript ecosystem.NestJS is ideal for teams familiar with JavaScript/TypeScript and building modern APIs.

Adidas and Capgemini: Uses NestJS for creating scalable and efficient backend services and for developing robust APIs in enterprise projects

Now, let's do a comparison of frameworks based on performance, usability, community support, flexibility, and security to guide you to take informed decisions.

Evaluation Criteria And Benchmarks

Here is a tabular representation of the different criteria used to differentiate these frameworks. We did not look into the popularity of the frameworks, since it is relative to the type of people using these.

Conclusion

I hope this article helped you to learn about frameworks and their advantages. Thanks for the read. If you need API documentation for any of these frameworks feel free to try out LiveAPI, we would like to hear your experiences.