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Prisma vs. Thin Backend

Blog post from LogRocket

Post Details
Company
Date Published
Author
Boemo Mmopelwa
Word Count
1,726
Language
-
Hacker News Points
-
Summary

GraphQL has gained popularity for its precise data fetching capabilities, leading many developers to prefer it over the REST API, despite the need to master its unique syntax. Meanwhile, technologies such as Thin Backend and Prisma are emerging as alternatives, each offering distinct advantages for database interaction. Thin Backend allows developers to interact directly with PostgreSQL databases using JavaScript frameworks like React or Angular, bypassing the need for REST or GraphQL syntax and facilitating real-time data retrieval, which is ideal for applications requiring low latency. Alternatively, Prisma offers a type-safe, object-relational mapping (ORM) client that simplifies database access for Node.js and TypeScript applications, supporting multiple database technologies and boasting a larger community. Both tools offer schema design and modeling capabilities, with Prisma providing a Domain Specific Language (DSL) and Thin Backend offering a GUI for schema management. While Prisma automates data migration processes with an intuitive CLI, Thin Backend requires manual synchronization, akin to Git's commit system. Despite some early-stage issues with Thin Backend, both technologies are reshaping how developers approach database queries, with the choice between them depending on specific project requirements.