The document discusses the implementation of GraphQL without a backend, highlighting benefits such as co-location of components and data needs, quicker feature development, and easier server-side rendering. It emphasizes a transition from RESTful APIs to a standalone GraphQL server, along with client-side enhancements through libraries like Apollo. Additional resources, tutorials, and examples are provided for further exploration of GraphQL adoption.

1. Vladimir Guguiev
Implementing GraphQL - Without a Backend

2. 70k Videos
TBs of Data per Day
2 * 10^9 Minutes of Videos Streamed per Year

3. Data Fetching Sucks

4. GET /cats/:id
Returns a cat

5. RESTful API
Movies Endpoint
Categories
Endpoint
Users Endpoint
Web App Native App

6. sort-of-REST API

8. https://goo.gl/TfLnRF

9. GitHub GraphQL API Explorer
https://goo.gl/2nQbaK

10. Benefits for the Frontend

11. Co-location of a component and its data needs
Data Query
Presentation

12. Faster feature development

13. Smart GraphQL Clients (Apollo, Relay, etc)
• Normalized client-side caching
• Optimistic UI updates
• Server-side rendering made easy
• Auto-polling
• Real-time subscriptions

14. GraphQL Adoption

16. Client-first GraphQL
GraphQL Schema
Web App
REST API Gateway
Server
Browser

17. GraphQL Schema resolves data from existing REST API

18. Configure Apollo GraphQL to use “client-side” schema

19. Use GraphQL in components

20. Next Steps...

21. Moving GraphQL Schema to a standalone server
GraphQL Schema
Web App
REST API Gateway
Server
Client
Native App
Mobile apps can
start using GraphQL
Same schema running
on a NodeJS server

22. Replace REST API Gateway with GraphQL API
GraphQL API Gateway
Web App
Microservice 1
Server
Client
Native App
Microservice 2 Database

23. Gradual
Adoption

24. Don’t be afraid to try

25. GraphQL on the Client - Example App - https://github.com/wzrdzl/client-side-graphql
Amazing GraphQL Tutorials for Different Languages -
https://www.howtographql.com/
GraphQL Specification - https://facebook.github.io/graphql/

26. Thank you
Questions and comments
@wzrdzl
@wzrdzl
tech.showmax.com
@ShowmaxDevs