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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Platform as a Service
  4. Realtime Backend API
  5. Apache HTTP Server vs Firebase

Apache HTTP Server vs Firebase

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Firebase
Firebase
Stacks42.5K
Followers36.0K
Votes2.0K
Apache HTTP Server
Apache HTTP Server
Stacks64.5K
Followers22.8K
Votes1.4K
GitHub Stars3.8K
Forks1.2K

Apache HTTP Server vs Firebase: What are the differences?

Introduction

Apache HTTP Server and Firebase are both popular web development platforms that offer different features and capabilities. Here are the key differences between them:

  1. Hosting and Server Infrastructure: Apache HTTP Server is a widely-used, open-source web server software that can be installed on various operating systems. It allows users to host websites and handle HTTP requests efficiently. On the other hand, Firebase provides a hosting service specifically designed for web applications and mobile apps. It offers a scalable and reliable hosting infrastructure that simplifies the deployment and management process.

  2. Database Integration: Apache HTTP Server primarily relies on external databases for data storage and retrieval. It can be configured to work with different database solutions such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle. In contrast, Firebase offers its own real-time database as part of its platform. The Firebase Realtime Database is a NoSQL cloud database that allows developers to store and sync data in real-time between clients and the server.

  3. Authentication and User Management: When it comes to authentication and user management, Apache HTTP Server requires additional server-side implementation to handle user login, registration, and session management. Firebase, however, provides built-in authentication and user management features. It offers various authentication methods like email/password, social media logins, and anonymous authentication, along with tools to manage user accounts.

  4. Real-time Communication and Notifications: Apache HTTP Server does not include native support for real-time communication and push notifications. It typically requires the integration of additional technologies like WebSockets or third-party services for implementing real-time features. In contrast, Firebase provides real-time capabilities out-of-the-box through its Realtime Database and Cloud Messaging services. Developers can easily implement real-time updates, chat functionalities, and push notifications using Firebase.

  5. Scalability and Infrastructure Management: Apache HTTP Server offers scalability through load balancing and clustering techniques. It requires manual configuration and monitoring to handle high traffic volumes and ensure server availability. On the other hand, Firebase automatically handles the scaling of web applications and provides a managed infrastructure. It takes care of load balancing, server provisioning, and scaling based on demand, allowing developers to focus on application development rather than infrastructure management.

  6. Development Ecosystem: Apache HTTP Server is mainly focused on server-side development and provides extensive support for traditional web development technologies like PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java. It is highly customizable and can be integrated with various frameworks and libraries. Firebase, on the other hand, is designed to support full-stack development and provides a comprehensive set of tools that cover both client-side and server-side development. It includes SDKs for various platforms, cloud functions for serverless computing, and additional services like analytics and crash reporting.

In summary, Apache HTTP Server is a versatile web server software that requires manual integration with additional technologies for various functionalities, while Firebase offers a comprehensive platform with built-in features for hosting, database management, authentication, real-time communication, and scalability, making it an all-in-one solution for web and mobile app development.

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Advice on Firebase, Apache HTTP Server

Jared
Jared

Contractor at Insight Global

Aug 9, 2019

ReviewonFirebaseFirebase

I started using Firebase over 5 years ago because of the 'real-time' nature. I originally used to use Real Time Database, but now I use Cloud Firestore. I recommend using the Google Firebase PaaS to quickly develop or prototype small to enterprise level web/mobile applications. Since Google purchased Firebase, it has exploded and it growing rapidly. I also find some level of comfort that it is Backed by Google.

272k views272k
Comments
Noam
Noam

Jul 16, 2020

Needs adviceonNode.jsNode.jsExpressJSExpressJSReactReact

We are starting to work on a web-based platform aiming to connect artists (clients) and professional freelancers (service providers). In-app, timeline-based, real-time communication between users (& storing it), file transfers, and push notifications are essential core features. We are considering using Node.js, ExpressJS, React, MongoDB stack with Socket.IO & Apollo, or maybe using Real-Time Database and functionalities of Firebase.

1.15M views1.15M
Comments
Hari
Hari

Mar 3, 2020

Needs advice

I was in a situation where I have to configure 40 RHEL servers 20 each for Apache HTTP Server and Tomcat server. My task was to

  1. configure LVM with required logical volumes, format and mount for HTTP and Tomcat servers accordingly.
  2. Install apache and tomcat.
  3. Generate and apply selfsigned certs to http server.
  4. Modify default ports on Tomcat to different ports.
  5. Create users on RHEL for application support team.
  6. other administrative tasks like, start, stop and restart HTTP and Tomcat services.

I have utilized the power of ansible for all these tasks, which made it easy and manageable.

419k views419k
Comments

Detailed Comparison

Firebase
Firebase
Apache HTTP Server
Apache HTTP Server

Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications. Simply add the Firebase library to your application to gain access to a shared data structure; any changes you make to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.

The Apache HTTP Server is a powerful and flexible HTTP/1.1 compliant web server. Originally designed as a replacement for the NCSA HTTP Server, it has grown to be the most popular web server on the Internet.

Add the Firebase library to your app and get access to a shared data structure. Any changes made to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.;Firebase apps can be written entirely with client-side code, update in real-time out-of-the-box, interoperate well with existing services, scale automatically, and provide strong data security.;Data Accessibility- Data is stored as JSON in Firebase. Every piece of data has its own URL which can be used in Firebase's client libraries and as a REST endpoint. These URLs can also be entered into a browser to view the data and watch it update in real-time.;Real-time Synchronization- Firebase takes a new approach to the way data is moved around an app. Rather than using a traditional request & response model, it works by synchronizing data between devices. Whenever your data changes, all clients are immediately notified within milliseconds. The synchronized data is also persisted, allowing new clients to be immediately updated.;First-class Data Security- Traditional applications intermix security code with application code, whereas Firebase treats security as a first-class feature. You define your security policies in one place using a flexible rules language, and Firebase ensures that they are consistently enforced across all parts of your application. Having all your security logic in one place allows for easy auditing and helps you avoid security mistakes. The safety and security of your data is our top priority.;Automatic Scaling- The Firebase API is built from the ground up for performance and scale. Whenever your data changes, Firebase calculates the minimum set of updates required to keep all your clients in sync. In addition, all Firebase API functions are designed to scale linearly with the size of the data being synchronized. More importantly, Firebase handles all of the scaling and operations for you. Your app will scale from its first user to its first million without any code changes.;Servers are Optional- Firebase can provide all of the data storage, control, and transmission needs of most apps. In many cases, Firebase can completely replace your server and server-side code. This means you no longer need to build complicated backend software and can instead focus on your application logic and your customers.
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Statistics
GitHub Stars
-
GitHub Stars
3.8K
GitHub Forks
-
GitHub Forks
1.2K
Stacks
42.5K
Stacks
64.5K
Followers
36.0K
Followers
22.8K
Votes
2.0K
Votes
1.4K
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 371
    Realtime backend made easy
  • 270
    Fast and responsive
  • 242
    Easy setup
  • 215
    Real-time
  • 191
    JSON
Cons
  • 31
    Can become expensive
  • 16
    No open source, you depend on external company
  • 15
    Scalability is not infinite
  • 9
    Not Flexible Enough
  • 7
    Cant filter queries
Pros
  • 479
    Web server
  • 305
    Most widely-used web server
  • 217
    Virtual hosting
  • 148
    Fast
  • 138
    Ssl support
Cons
  • 4
    Hard to set up
Integrations
Trigger.io
Trigger.io
Famo.us
Famo.us
Backbone.js
Backbone.js
Ember.js
Ember.js
AngularJS
AngularJS
React
React
No integrations available

What are some alternatives to Firebase, Apache HTTP Server?

NGINX

NGINX

nginx [engine x] is an HTTP and reverse proxy server, as well as a mail proxy server, written by Igor Sysoev. According to Netcraft nginx served or proxied 30.46% of the top million busiest sites in Jan 2018.

Socket.IO

Socket.IO

It enables real-time bidirectional event-based communication. It works on every platform, browser or device, focusing equally on reliability and speed.

Unicorn

Unicorn

Unicorn is an HTTP server for Rack applications designed to only serve fast clients on low-latency, high-bandwidth connections and take advantage of features in Unix/Unix-like kernels. Slow clients should only be served by placing a reverse proxy capable of fully buffering both the the request and response in between Unicorn and slow clients.

PubNub

PubNub

PubNub makes it easy for you to add real-time capabilities to your apps, without worrying about the infrastructure. Build apps that allow your users to engage in real-time across mobile, browser, desktop and server.

Microsoft IIS

Microsoft IIS

Internet Information Services (IIS) for Windows Server is a flexible, secure and manageable Web server for hosting anything on the Web. From media streaming to web applications, IIS's scalable and open architecture is ready to handle the most demanding tasks.

Pusher

Pusher

Pusher is the category leader in delightful APIs for app developers building communication and collaboration features.

Apache Tomcat

Apache Tomcat

Apache Tomcat powers numerous large-scale, mission-critical web applications across a diverse range of industries and organizations.

Passenger

Passenger

Phusion Passenger is a web server and application server, designed to be fast, robust and lightweight. It takes a lot of complexity out of deploying web apps, adds powerful enterprise-grade features that are useful in production, and makes administration much easier and less complex.

SignalR

SignalR

SignalR allows bi-directional communication between server and client. Servers can now push content to connected clients instantly as it becomes available. SignalR supports Web Sockets, and falls back to other compatible techniques for older browsers. SignalR includes APIs for connection management (for instance, connect and disconnect events), grouping connections, and authorization.

Ably

Ably

Ably offers WebSockets, stream resume, history, presence, and managed third-party integrations to make it simple to build, extend, and deliver digital realtime experiences at scale.

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