Creating Dynamic Applications using LoopBack.JS

 

In Node.JS, LoopBack is one of the most opted frameworks. Why? Because it helps in creating the most dynamic applications with the help of Command-line Interface (CLI) and Application Programming Interface (API) explorer. Loopback is compatible with many REST services and databases that include MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB, Postgres among others.

If you are looking forward to developing dynamic applications based on your schema, then LoopBack.JS with its plentiful features is the best choice to make your app more rewarding.

What is the vision behind LoopBack? Some are listed below:

• Easily build apps that involve complex integrations.
• Enabling a larger landscape of extensions.
• Provide cores that are adequate, swift, flexible, and robust.
• Make it compatible with small or large teams.
• Minimally opinionated to weigh in teams’ opinions.

What is LoopBack.JS?

LoopBack is one of the excellent frameworks available in one of the most opted JavaScript frameworks- Node.JS. In the Node.JS ecosystem, LoopBack pivots the creation of API builds and microservices.

In official terms and definition, LoopBack is a highly extensible, open-source Node.JS and Typescript framework based on the Express that enables you to quickly create APIs and microservices composed from backend systems such as databases and SOAP or REST services.

Which is the Latest Release of LoopBack?

The current release of LoopBack is LoopBack 4. This latest release includes the following updates:

• TypeScript/ES2017 based novel core to deliver high extensibility and flexibility.
• Definition of REST APIs and handling of API responses and requests for creation experience.
• A programming model that has dependency injection and concepts to make the LoopBack framework extensible with concepts like components, mixins, and repositories.
• Support of GraphQL enabled through OASGraph.

The Developers’ Contribution in LoopBack

LoopBack, which is built on Node.JS, is one of the most opted frameworks in app development, particularly for API development. The ability of Node.JS to execute programs in an asynchronous and non-blocking manner is particularly helpful for high-latency uses like mobile and other networked apps. LoopBack backs popular constructs of Node.JS like Express middleware and Promises. So the developers’ contribution to the project helps in making better APIs and is as good as using a framework that the developers are already familiar with.

The Business Problems Addressed by LoopBack

LoopBack helps businesses to create a REST API with minimal coding and with so doing, businesses are phishing their limits to make their products and services to larger developer audiences who make use of APIs. With LoopBack, your business will have consistent ways to design and apply APIs including the REST layer, models, and ORM. 

Traditional Java or. Net-based stacks consume a lot of hardware support for processing higher loads. But for LoopBack, the asynchronous nature of Node.JS helps to handle large loads with lesser hardware support. Thus for projects involving Mobile apps and IoT with high server loads, LoopBack is the ideal choice to build APIs. LoopBack capabilities are the result of leveraging the dynamic nature of JavaScript thus helping in discovering data structures and enabling developers to reduce the time needed for building a working version of their API service and iterate at a larger rate.

If your client is dealing with legacy systems, LoopBack has connectors from DB2, Oracle, MSSQL DB to SOAP web services. This will reduce the overall expense of a new API tier integration with the already existing ‘system of record’ tires.

How to Get Started with LoopBack?

Here are the steps involved in getting started with LoopBack:

1. To start with LoopBack, you need a certain specific prerequisite
2. Install LoopBack 4 CLI
3. Create new project
4. Add your controller
5. View the code sample

What are the Top Features of LoopBack?

• It can create REST API swiftly.
• You can connect devices and browsers to data and services.
• It can be run on both on-premise and cloud servers.

Why should you go for LoopBack?

LoopBack comes with bounteous advantages that make it a must-have option for developers like:

Full-Stack Development

LoopBack is backed by the power of full-stack development, which means the same model can be shared for the client-side as well as server-side. Therefore, the REST API functions available in the server are also available on the client-side. Thus with a lesser codebase and faster development, LoopBack helps in developing an app without considering the CRUD operations or without doing any, particularly concerning the server. Even when custom REST APIs are involved, the consumption on the client-side remains hassle-free.

Built-in Features

As far as built-in models and features are considered, LoopBack offers a lot of out-of-the-box things. Creating CRUD APIs can be done with simple flags and common practices like role-based APIs for user management can be done in a jiffy. For creating API contracts and interacting within them, LoopBack offers API swagger too.

Organized and Moduled Codes

LoopBack is an opinionated framework as already mentioned, and organized codes are one of the benefits that come with it. With the project architecture in hand, a proper understanding of placing new codes, and a handy level of abstraction all sums up to a structured project.

Faster Development

Your LoopBack project can be easily scaffolded using the StrongLoop CLI and your project progression happens at a fast pace with the help of its other futuristic functionalities.

Community Support:

StrongLoop has a strong support organization and is a full-time team involved in its development side. Hence, the framework can be tagged as a stable and mature one and is a major player in its respective field.

ORM Built

For creating clean codes, models and relations are defined by adding JSON files. Its full-stack architecture makes querying databases can be made simple by querying the database from the client side directly using filters.

Endnote:

If you are developing an API on a node, then the LoopBAck framework is one of the ideal options as it is compatible with a wide range of existing express middleware. StrongLoop is maintaining the express repository and performing minor LoopBack updates regularly which makes another strong reason for choosing it.

However, the nature of your project at hand matters, and if you feel there are many levels of right decisions for your project regarding LoopBack, let our development experts at Webdura help you to solve that indecisiveness!