The backend of your mobile application can be thought of as an additional application. It is software that runs on devices referred to as servers.
Mobile application backend development enables the application’s core functionality.
It features servers, databases, middleware, and other components and is accessible online via an application programming interface (API).
Every mobile app’s backend is made up of numerous layers. Traditionally, servers, databases, and middleware made up the backend.
However, the backends of contemporary mobile apps can include a variety of parts and connectors for email notifications, load balancers, or cloud storage.
Describe MBaaS
A web service called mobile backend as a service (MBaaS) aims to be a one-stop shop for backend app development.
Although still crucial, backend development is frequently considerably more practical than UI/UX development.
The backend of the majority of apps must perform well, but it can be created with a “set it and forget it” attitude. So, with few limitations, a no-code (Codeless) or low-code backend can speed up app development.
Functionality of MBaaS
An MBaaS platform’s main goal is to give app developers a way to connect their front-end software to essential back-end functions like cloud computing, cloud storage, and APIs made available by a back-end programme.
The desired result is to remove app developers from having to think about, care about, manage, or do any server-related duties.
In order to connect their API endpoints to a variety of frontend clients, such as iOS and Android applications created using any technology capable of building a mobile app, such as React Native, Ionic, Flutter, Unity, etc., developers using MBaaS services need custom software development kits (SDKs).
The pre-built APIs of the provider, such as those for login, push notifications, and data service, may also be accessible through these SDKs.
The breadth and calibre of functionality that MBaaS services offer can differ substantially.
Some might provide the bare minimum of the aforementioned functions while leaving the developer in charge of the backend’s other tasks, such creating APIs and managing databases.
Others, like Google Firebase and Backendless, offer a wide range of additional out-of-the-box functionalities.
All facets of the backend infrastructure are handled by the MBaaS platform,
Serving up servers
maintenance and construction of databases
Setting up security
Monitoring of data storage applications
Authentication of users
Services for error handling and notification
MBaaS enables the development team to move more quickly and save time, money, and resources in a variety of project management tasks, including
Management of API
MBaaS can handle API development and management in a number of ways.
A fundamental strategy calls for the developer to create and test new APIs on their local workstation or with a different service before accessing or importing them into the MBaaS platform.
The developer is given the resources to create, test, and deploy APIs within the MBaaS platform itself by more feature-rich providers like Backendless.
Users of Backendless have the option of importing APIs from external sources, writing APIs within the platform, or creating APIs with a Codeless builder.
The goal of codeless API construction is to simplify API development. The user of a Codeless builder can construct logic using visual elements. The platform will automatically translate the logic into code once finished.
The vendors of MBaaS may offer a selection of pre-built APIs. For instance, Backendless offers dozens of industry-standard services for REST, iOS, Android/Java,.NET, and JavaScript.
These APIs can be used as-is, altered, or combined with other logic to produce new APIs that are tailored to the needs of the developers.
Management of databases (DBMS)
MBaaS providers do not typically provide database management services.
A typical MBaaS provider will be able to communicate with a user’s database, but they might not offer the option to create a database on the platform itself.
Database administration services are also offered by some companies, such as Backendless, Firebase, and Azure. Backendless, for instance, offers the ability to create a new database inside the platform itself while also interacting with a user’s external (or legacy) database.
An internal database that Backendless offers is automatically configured to get the best performance. Without the need for any external storage systems, it is a comprehensive persistence solution that can serve your application completely.
Additionally, Backendless can connect to your existing relational database management system (RDBMS) to access the existing schema and dataset. This is known as support for external databases.
Backendless Database offers both relational data capabilities and real-time data capability. By using several connected tables, data relations enable users to reduce the size of the data table.
User Administration
The platforms of the majority of MBaaS providers have some kind of user management capability. Users are able to sign up, log in, and administer their own accounts as a result.
Some solutions, like Backendless, include more sophisticated features including multi-user capabilities, two-factor authentication, and password recovery.
One of the essential components of any user management system is user authentication. Typically, a username and password combination is used for authentication.
For instance, OAuth 2.0 substitutes tokens for passwords. Users can utilise single sign-on, or SSO, solutions to log in only once and then use their credentials to access various applications.
Either third party authentication or a straightforward username/password combination can be used for authentication.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, industry heavyweights like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as other digital services like Fitbit and GitHub, can all be used as third-party authentication choices.
Logic in Business and Cloud Services
It is typical for the backend to execute some logic in relation to data once data is received there or a request for data is received.
It is significantly more effective for a mobile application to carry out computations on the backend in order to free up memory and computational resources on the client-side.
The ability to build logic based on specific events that initiate calculations or computations on the backend will be provided by a high-quality MBaaS solution to the developer.
In this approach, processing time will be reduced by utilising the platform’s superior cloud computing capabilities, which considerably outweigh those of a mobile device.
Backendless offers the option to generate Cloud Code, event handlers and timers that can be built without code and executed on the backend as designed by the developer, for developers looking to significantly speed up the backend development process or for those without coding skills.
Online Storage (Cloud)
Access to cloud storage is made available to developers via MBaaS providers. The backend is remains easily accessible to client apps, potentially eliminating the need to buy and operate internal servers.
Costs might significantly rise when maintaining separate file storage, data storage, and logic storage systems. These components are all combined by MBaaS suppliers.
Keeping images and files that are too large or rarely used to be included in the client application is a typical function of a backend.
MBaaS makes it simple for teams that are geographically or organizationally dispersed to share these files by storing them in the cloud.
A file service API or the MBaaS user interface make it simple to access the files.
Following the serverless approach, MBaaS providers often host all backend files, databases, and APIs in the cloud by default.
Local installations of the platform for on-premises or virtual machine hosting are a less typical feature of MBaaS solutions.
Backendless also provides an MBaaS platform with Backendless Pro that can be installed on local servers.
This removes restrictions on server usage and provides developers more choice over server architecture.
In a recent article, we addressed the benefits and drawbacks of serverless hosting in comparison to cloud servers and internal servers.
Data Morphing Across Platforms
The option to morph data for cross-platform delivery is an essential feature that is not provided by all MBaaS services.
A client-side application that supports many platforms (such as iOS, Android, the web, etc.) will receive data from each platform in a different format.
It is customary for providers to send all data to client applications in JSON format, leaving it up to the developer to convert it into the proper class for processing at the application level.
Without additional setup, Backendless carries out this transformation immediately out of the box.
To make integrating your application’s frontend and backend easier, the most flexible MBaaS systems will also include SDKs for all of the most popular frontend languages, including iOS/Swift, Android/Java, and JavaScript.
In addition to Flutter SDKs, Backendless goes a step further by including .NET SDKs.
The simplicity of being able to deploy to several mobile platforms using a single backend code base will be advantageous to mobile developers.
Additionally, it consolidates all backend work into a single environment, which makes it easier for novice developers to pick up.
Advantages of MBaaS
1.)Managing servers is not necessary
You no longer have to be concerned about managing servers, security updates, backups, scaling, performance optimization, or other difficulties related to managing your own backend infrastructure while using an MBaaS platform. You only need to create your front-end application; the MBaaS platform will take care of everything else.
2.)More rapid time to market
Without needing to develop a whole backend solution, new mobile apps may be swiftly created using an MBaaS platform.
This can save you months of labour and save the cost of developing an app because you can start designing your app’s user interface straight immediately.
3.) Productivity growth
You may spend less time creating your app and more time concentrating on what matters most—creating excellent products—by leveraging an MBaaS platform.
4.) Lower hosting expenses
Using an MBaaS solution spares you from paying steep hosting and maintenance costs. You only pay for the resources that you actually utilise.
5.) Simpler scaling
A typical MBaaS platform provides simple options to scale up and down in response to demand. This implies that preparing your infrastructure and allocating server resources is not something you need to spend time and money on.
Instead, as your business expands, your MBaaS provider will handle these complex tasks for you.
6.) Increased security
If you’re concerned about the security of sensitive data in your mobile app, an MBaaS platform allows you to easily encrypt data at rest and in transit. It’s important to note that the MBaaS platform handles encryption, not your mobile app.
7.) Straightforward integration with third-party services
Many MBaaS platforms enable integration with third-party systems such as Facebook, Twitter, and Slack. This eliminates the need for functionality to be duplicated across multiple systems.
Some of the most reputable mobile backend service providers
1) Firebase
Firebase is a leading backend-as-a-service platform for developing serverless Android, iOS, and web apps. Initially a rather limited tool, Google acquired Firebase in 2014.
It includes a real-time database, cloud storage, a test lab, Firebase ML with 1000 free cloud API calls per month, and plenty of storage.
It provides low data transfer fees, a variety of cloud functions, and other features that make it simple to build, support, and grow mobile apps. The Firebase No-cost Spark Plan is free, but it has some restrictions.
Firebase excels at usability and quick learning.
Furthermore, with active Google support and a sizable developer community, the platform has detailed technical documentation, user guides, and training videos.
2) Kinvey (Progress Kinvey)
Kinvey is a cloud platform that allows developers to build the server-side of their mobile, web, and chat applications with little to no code.
The site’s code allows for rapid development for iOS, Android, HTML5, and Xamarin. The database, push notifications, authentication, and location services are among its core services. There are numerous other code snippet libraries.
Progress Software purchased the platform in 2017.
Progress Kinvey is positioned as an enterprise-grade solution for streamlining the development and deployment of iOS, Android, web, and progressive web apps.
This MBaaS platform provides customer and user interaction, as well as IoT data management capabilities, in addition to core functionality for push notifications and authentication.
The company distinguishes itself from other MBaaS solutions on the market by providing specialised microservices for healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing.
Company demonstrates cost-effectiveness for individual software engineers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations through differentiated pricing models.
It includes extensive technical documentation as well as a large knowledge base, making the platform accessible to even inexperienced developers.
3)CloudKit by Apple
CloudKit is a BaaS framework that Apple released as part of the iOS 8 update. The solution, which is available for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, is designed to make app integration with server-side iCloud storage easier.
User authentication, push notifications, secure data and file sharing, and structured asset storage in private, public, or shared databases are among the key features of Apple CloudKit.
CloudKit’s most powerful differentiator is the generous amount of data transfer and storage it provides for free. To use the framework, you must first enrol in the iOS Developer Program.
4) AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify is a set of libraries, user interface components, and a command-line interface (CLI) that allows mobile and web developers to create rich applications.
Developers can configure an app’s backend using Amplify CLI or Amplify Studio, then connect the app to the backend using UI components and Amplify libraries.
Create backend environments and host your front-end web app with Amplify Hosting.
To manage authenticated users and update app data, Amplify includes User management and Content management.
In iOS and Android applications, Amplify libraries include services for user account creation, push notifications, and data stores, as well as AI/ML capabilities for image recognition, text interpretation, and speech transcription. Developers can easily build and maintain a serverless AWS backend using the Amplify command-line toolkit.
AWS Amplify has received praise for its extensive feature set and affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
Amplify is thought to be better suited for large-scale projects with strict quality and safety requirements than for small-scale projects.
5) Backendless
Backendless provides a plethora of features to assist you in achieving your app-building objectives.
Backendless supports frequent backups, multiple developer onboarding, and maximum security through the use of an SSL certificate.
It is a leading MBaaS platform that can compete with Google and AWS products.
Backendless is compatible with the most widely used client-side mobile and web development languages, including Java, Swift, Objective-C, JavaScript, Flutter, and.NET.
It includes many features for backend development, such as user authentication and management, geolocation, messaging, file storage, push notifications, and so on.
In addition, the platform includes a library of landing page and marketing email templates, as well as tools for email A/B testing and user segmentation.
Backendless’ strong points are its user-friendliness, ease of integration, continuous addition of new features, and dependable support.
On the other hand, many developers believe that the free version is too limited and admit to having difficulty with complex server logic tasks.
In the year 2022, it introduced SuperScaling, a proprietary system that allows Backendless users to automatically allocate server-side resources in order to process all server requests efficiently.
Note: Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) is an option if you do not want to write your own backend servers or put resources into a cloud-based server.
Conclusion
This article describes about Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) and some of the most reputable mobile service providers.
Note: The information in this article is based solely on information found on the internet and does not come from any private sources.