In the realm of web development, the front end may be what people see the most, but the back end is just as vital to a successful site. This is especially true in the modern digital age, as they need to support scalability and a variety of application integrations. To maintain this standard for back end systems, developers need to ensure that they are regularly up to date with the most modern technologies and solutions.
We have put together a brief guide for developers to ensure they continue to design powerful back end solutions in the current scene. Let’s dive in.
What is Back End Development?
Before we jump right into the guide to back end solutions, let’s quickly explain what back end development is. To keep it incredibly simple, back end development means anything that is being built or operating on the server side rather than the front-facing user side of a website or application.
When it comes to modern back end development, there are a few major keys to success that are worth noting. Here are just a few!
Modular or Microservice Architecture
Breaking up code into smaller and more independent functions or services can make building a back end much easier and more maintainable. Not only will it be easier to isolate and fix issues, but it will be significantly more simple to scale.
Start with APIs
API-first development is becoming a more common method when building out back end systems. Building the APIs first helps to ensure that they function correctly and that the rest of the system integrates harmoniously.
Focus on Security
Security has become a more vital focal point than ever, even in just the building process. Incorporating security measures during development helps to prevent early vulnerabilities or the potential for missing protocols.
Continuous Integration or Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
CI/CD makes improvements and changes much simpler by automating code change deployments. This can help to save a lot of downtime and headaches when making updates or when trying to get to market.
Challenges for a Back End Developer
Even with modern solutions and tools, there are still a few challenges that back end developers can face, which include:
- Optimizing Performance: The massively high traffic of the digital space means that developers need to regularly monitor and optimize performance. Otherwise, significant bottlenecks can occur. Modern tools like ELK Stack and Prometheus can help monitor performance and allow potential issues to be addressed immediately.
- Scalability: Any back-end system needs to be built with scalability in mind, as it will need to be able to handle the increased loads and traffic of a growing user base.
- Security Threats: Security threats evolve faster than ever these days, which is why it needs to remain a priority for any developer. That’s why it’s vital for every developer to stay knowledgeable on current and future security protocols, tools, and technologies.
The above is far from a complete guide to modern back-end systems. However, it’s an excellent starting point for any developer to build more robust and comprehensive systems.
Graphem Solutions is Here to Help.
If you are in need of a robust back end system that will grow with your expanding user base, then Graphem Solutions is here to help. Our team of developers are experts in the field of back end system building and can create the perfect custom architecture that will best suit your needs. Moreover, we can help build out the front end to ensure that both sides communicate and function flawlessly. If you would like to know more, reach out to us online or call us at 1-800-590-0175.