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GraphQL vs GraphQL Ruby vs graphql.js: What are the differences?
## Introduction
GraphQL is a query language for APIs developed by Facebook, designed to provide a more efficient and flexible alternative to REST APIs. GraphQL Ruby is a library for building GraphQL APIs in Ruby, while graphql.js is a JavaScript library for consuming GraphQL APIs.
1. **Syntax**: GraphQL defines a standard syntax for writing queries, mutations, and subscriptions that is independent of the underlying implementation. GraphQL Ruby and graphql.js adhere to this syntax but provide language-specific ways of interacting with GraphQL APIs.
2. **Server-Side vs. Client-Side**: GraphQL Ruby is primarily used for building server-side GraphQL APIs in Ruby, handling request parsing, query execution, and response formatting. On the other hand, graphql.js is focused on executing GraphQL queries on the client-side (typically within a web browser or Node.js environment).
3. **Type Safety**: GraphQL Ruby leverages the static typing system of Ruby to enforce schema definitions and type checking at compile time. In contrast, graphql.js, being a dynamic language, does not offer the same level of type safety as GraphQL Ruby.
4. **Performance**: In terms of performance, GraphQL Ruby can optimize query execution by leveraging features specific to the Ruby language, such as memoization and lazy loading. GraphQL.js, being a JavaScript library, may have different performance characteristics depending on the environment it is used in.
5. **Community Support**: Both GraphQL Ruby and graphql.js have active communities contributing to their development and providing support to users. However, the size and specific resources available in each community may vary, influencing the availability of plugins, extensions, and documentation for each library.
6. **Integration Ecosystem**: GraphQL Ruby integrates seamlessly with Ruby web frameworks like Ruby on Rails, making it easy to build GraphQL APIs within existing Ruby applications. graphql.js can be integrated into a wide range of JavaScript frameworks and tools, offering flexibility in how GraphQL is consumed on the client-side.
## Summary
In Summary, the key differences between GraphQL, GraphQL Ruby, and graphql.js lie in their syntax, server-side vs. client-side focus, type safety, performance optimizations, community support, and integration ecosystem.
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Learn MorePros of GraphQL
Pros of graphql.js
Pros of GraphQL Ruby
Pros of GraphQL
- Schemas defined by the requests made by the user75
- Will replace RESTful interfaces63
- The future of API's62
- The future of databases49
- Self-documenting13
- Get many resources in a single request12
- Query Language6
- Ask for what you need, get exactly that6
- Fetch different resources in one request3
- Type system3
- Evolve your API without versions3
- Ease of client creation2
- GraphiQL2
- Easy setup2
- "Open" document1
- Fast prototyping1
- Supports subscription1
- Standard1
- Good for apps that query at build time. (SSR/Gatsby)1
- 1. Describe your data1
- Better versioning1
- Backed by Facebook1
- Easy to learn1
Pros of graphql.js
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Pros of GraphQL Ruby
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Cons of GraphQL
Cons of graphql.js
Cons of GraphQL Ruby
Cons of GraphQL
- Hard to migrate from GraphQL to another technology4
- More code to type.4
- Takes longer to build compared to schemaless.2
- No support for caching1
- All the pros sound like NFT pitches1
- No support for streaming1
- Works just like any other API at runtime1
- N+1 fetch problem1
- No built in security1
Cons of graphql.js
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- No public GitHub repository available -
What is GraphQL?
GraphQL is a data query language and runtime designed and used at Facebook to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps since 2012.
What is graphql.js?
Lightest GraphQL client with intelligent features. You can download graphql.js directly, or you can use Bower or NPM.
What is GraphQL Ruby?
Get going fast with the graphql gem, battle-tested and trusted by GitHub and Shopify.
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What tools integrate with GraphQL?
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What are some alternatives to GraphQL, graphql.js, and GraphQL Ruby?
gRPC
gRPC is a modern open source high performance RPC framework that can run in any environment. It can efficiently connect services in and across data centers with pluggable support for load balancing, tracing, health checking...
Falcor
Falcor lets you represent all your remote data sources as a single domain model via a virtual JSON graph. You code the same way no matter where the data is, whether in memory on the client or over the network on the server.
React
Lots of people use React as the V in MVC. Since React makes no assumptions about the rest of your technology stack, it's easy to try it out on a small feature in an existing project.
MongoDB
MongoDB stores data in JSON-like documents that can vary in structure, offering a dynamic, flexible schema. MongoDB was also designed for high availability and scalability, with built-in replication and auto-sharding.
REST
An architectural style for developing web services. A distributed system framework that uses Web protocols and technologies.