Add Analytics to your GraphQL API Server and Debug it with VSCode

GraphQL back-ends are increasingly essential in the API industry due to their ability to provide front-end developers with more control over the data sent by back-ends, potentially reducing traffic and improving efficiency for slow mobile connections. Unlike REST, GraphQL's well-defined specification allows for more consistent implementations, making it more accessible for developers. This article demonstrates how to build a GraphQL back-end using Apollo Server on Node.js, including setting up a simple server to query tasks and creating a custom analytics extension to monitor request lifecycle stages. This extension can log data and timings at each stage, which can be viewed using debugging tools like those in Visual Studio Code (VSCode). By integrating with VSCode's debugger, developers can gain deeper insights into the server's operation, aiding in performance monitoring and debugging. The Apollo Server's extension system facilitates integration with monitoring services, offering detailed access to request lifecycle stages, ultimately helping developers understand and improve their GraphQL servers.