Empire vs Hasura vs MongoDB Stitch: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here we will discuss the key differences between Empire and Hasura and MongoDB Stitch in terms of their features, functionality, and use cases.

1. Deployment and Scalability: One key difference between Empire and Hasura is their approach to deployment and scalability. Empire is designed to be deployed as a standalone service, allowing for more flexibility in deployment options and scalability. Hasura, on the other hand, is primarily focused on being deployed with Kubernetes, which provides a more streamlined and automated deployment process. MongoDB Stitch also allows for easy deployment and scalability, with built-in horizontal scaling capabilities.

2. Data Storage: Another major difference between Empire and Hasura and MongoDB Stitch is their data storage capabilities. Empire primarily utilizes PostgreSQL as its underlying database, providing robust and mature data storage options. Hasura, on the other hand, can work with various databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server, providing more flexibility in terms of database choices. MongoDB Stitch, as the name suggests, is built on top of MongoDB, offering a NoSQL document-based data storage approach.

3. Real-time Updates: Hasura and MongoDB Stitch offer more comprehensive real-time update capabilities compared to Empire. Hasura utilizes GraphQL subscriptions and event triggers to provide real-time updates to clients, while MongoDB Stitch leverages MongoDB's change streams feature. Empire, on the other hand, relies on traditional query-based approaches for data retrieval and updates.

4. Authentication and Authorization: Empire, Hasura, and MongoDB Stitch all provide authentication and authorization features. However, there are differences in terms of their implementation and supported authentication providers. Empire offers a pluggable authentication system, allowing for customization and integration with various authentication providers. Hasura also provides various authentication options, including JWT, auth0, and custom methods. MongoDB Stitch offers authentication through various providers such as email/password, Google, Facebook, and more.

5. Serverless Functions: Both Hasura and MongoDB Stitch offer serverless function capabilities, allowing users to execute custom code on the server-side. Hasura uses webhooks and Actions to enable serverless functions, while MongoDB Stitch provides a serverless functions feature called "Stitch Functions." Empire, on the other hand, does not have built-in serverless function capabilities.

6. Pricing: Pricing is another important difference between Empire, Hasura, and MongoDB Stitch. Empire and Hasura are open-source solutions that can be self-hosted, making them free to use. MongoDB Stitch, on the other hand, is a fully managed service provided by MongoDB, which means there are pricing considerations based on usage and the selected plan.

In summary, Empire, Hasura, and MongoDB Stitch differ in terms of their deployment and scalability options, supported databases, real-time update capabilities, authentication and authorization mechanisms, serverless function features, and pricing models.