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What is Mobile App Hosting? 10 Main Principles of Mobile Hosting and 5 Benefits

What is Mobile App Hosting? 10 Main Principles of Mobile Hosting and 5 Benefits
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Infrastructure

Do you have an app that you need to host, but you don’t know how hosting works and why you need it? Want to know what mobile App hosting is? In this article we’ll discuss hosting for mobile apps in detail and give practical advice on how to choose the best one. Read the article to find out what mobile App hosting is and how to connect it correctly.

Is hosting for a mobile app really necessary? Or you can do without it? Do you need a domain for an iOS app? How much will it cost? Struggling with the answers to these questions? Well, stick around and we’ll get it all sorted out.

After reading this, you’ll know where software, applications, and files are located in the computing world, how they work, and how to bring a mobile application to a large audience at a reasonable price.

What is app hosting?

Hosting is a duet of hardware and software platforms on which websites and applications run.

The simplest way to understand how hosting for mobile apps works is to imagine a computer (called a server) containing an application’s files, which is always on and makes the app or any information in it accessible to developers and users 24/7. That’s it.

Basically, programmers write code, create databases, connect all the necessary components, and then upload them to the server of their choice. Thereafter, the app becomes available for everyone who installs it or accesses it via a web browser.

Does your app need hosting?

It depends on what you want to get from the application and how it is structured. For example, if you’ve created some sort of task manager that can be launched independently on a user’s phone or tablet, you don’t have to host it on any kind of server. But what if you want to synchronize data from the app between different devices? Or create a large-scale service with remote access to an extensive media collection (like Spotify or Netflix)? Then you need a server where all the data will be stored.

The operating system doesn’t matter. If you are here reading this because you can't decide whether Android apps need to be hosted or not, the above answer applies. The same goes for apps for iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. The only exception is web applications.

Does an app need a website?

Technically, no. A mobile app can operate without a website, so it’s up to you whether to create one or do without.

Usually, you need some kind of web page to serve as the place where your terms of use and privacy policy are kept.

You can also use a website for marketing and SEO purposes. Create a simple landing page with more info on your application and containing relevant keywords that will help people find your app using search engines.

And what does an app need to connect to a website? Nothing. They can exist independently. And there’s no reason to bind them.

Does an app need a domain?

It depends on whether the app is going to work with different types of requests like a website, such as GET and POST, used to transfer information to and from users. If that’s the case, the answer to the question is: “Yes, the app needs a domain.”

Okay, there is actually a way to handle requests using IP addresses, but then the webmaster has to buy a static IP, which is as pricey as a proper DNS setup. That’s why webmasters recommend using services like dyn.com. Because even mobile apps need a domain.

How are mobile apps usually hosted?

For the most part, like websites. They are hosted on remote servers which are administered by hosting providers. For example, DigitalOcean is a provider. It has a data center with a vast array of powerful servers, which it allows app makers to use on various terms.

What kind of terms? Let’s take a closer look and compare different ways of hosting software with different companies.

Types of servers

Here we answer the question: “Where are applications hosted?” Every mobile service or program consists of a series of files, and these files must be stored somewhere so that users can work with them.

You have four common options to choose from. If you’ve ever hosted a website, you already know at least three of them. If not, you’ll learn them all now.

Shared

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A shared server (or virtual hosting) is a predetermined amount of processor power and hard drive space for storing your app’s files. A shared server is always on and powers your program.

The main advantages of this kind of hosting are low pricing and an easy setup process. The main disadvantages are limited performance and a lot of technical restrictions.

This option is appropriate if you’re going to host an application that requires few system resources and won’t unexpectedly take off and expand.

VPS

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A virtual private server (VPS) is a fully functional virtual machine that imitates real computer capabilities. You can install any operating system on a VPS, use it with any software tools and utilities you find necessary, etc.

A VPS is partially managed by the hosting provider (who usually optimizes the server to achieve the expected performance). But everything else is on the “tenant,” who pays for the VDS and stores the files of their software product there.

A VPS is a balanced choice between shared and dedicated servers. It offers more power and control, and is not as expensive as a dedicated server.

Dedicated

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This is a real computer — a physical server that is located somewhere in the provider’s data center and belongs to you (as long as you pay, of course). It can be used for creating and hosting an application of any kind without software limitations. A dedicated server is a great choice for those who are eager to achieve maximal compatibility, stability, and performance, and are willing to pay for it.

Cloud Clusters

In a nutshell, a cloud cluster is like a large group of VDSs (virtual dedicated server). A cloud cluster is a big stack of virtual servers that are located on different physical servers and sometimes even in different countries. A cloud cluster can be seen as an extensive infrastructure that is constantly scaling to meet the application’s requirements. The more people use the app, the more hardware resources are allocated to the cluster.

This is the best choice for those who create an enormous web service and want to be ready to ramp up the customer base at any moment. Products like Spotify, Telegram, Facebook, and thousands of others run on these types of servers.

Methods of hosting

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We’ve discussed different types of servers. Let’s discuss what an app hosting service is and what kinds of services we have to choose from.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service. With this type of hosting, you gain full control of a server and must set it up on your own. The provider provides the hardware and a webmaster has to initialize the OS, build the database, connect the domain, etc.

It's a little like owning a car. The driver can drive it wherever and however they want. But at the same time the driver is solely responsible for maintaining, fueling, and repairing the car.

VDS and dedicated servers fall under the category of IaaS.

PaaS

Platform as a Service implies a hosting provider to set up the hardware, operating system, database, and basic software in advance. All you have to do is upload your files and sort them all out so that the app can function as expected.

Let’s return to our car example. PaaS is like car sharing. Under this model drivers have certain limitations. They can’t leave the city, can’t change any part of the cars, and can’t park them in their own garages, but these drivers spend much less time and money on car ownership.

This is how shared servers and cloud clusters work, and these can be categorized as PaaS.

This is usually the best hosting method for most apps. Developers can concentrate on their primary tasks, while the PaaS does the rest.

SaaS

Software as a Service. This is actually an app — a functional product that helps to achieve the user’s aims without setting anything up.

Once again, using the car example, SaaS is like Uber. You do nothing with the car itself. The hired driver will get you from point A to point B. Responsibility for maintenance, repairs, fueling, and anything else lies either with the driver or with the service administrators.

Some cloud clusters work this way, providing access to software but giving no access to its internal workings.

How are mobile apps hosted?

There are two popular solutions:

You can rent a full-fledged server from Amazon Web Services or DigitalOcean and deploy your application there by yourself — install all the essential tools and utilities, set up a domain, optimize it, etc.

Or you can use hosting platforms like Hostman or Heroku. These are PaaS products that let development teams work on the app and forget all about deployment. Just two or three clicks, and your project is on the World Wide Web.

Using PaaS, any webmaster can quickly and easily host the frontend and backend of their project. With Hostman, you only need to connect a repository to the service, select the frameworks or coding languages, build your app, and deploy it. Hostman will give you a domain, an SSL certificate, and anything else needed.

What hosting services do well-known companies choose?

How much do you know about Amazon? You’re probably aware that it is the world’s biggest web marketplace. But it’s also the biggest web hosting provider on the planet. AWS (a sub-brand of Amazon) is used by many major corporations and developers around the globe.

So if you ask where Facebook applications are hosted, the answer would be AWS. If you ask where Appian apps are hosted, the answer would be the same — AWS. The same is true for lots of big companies, including Apple, Snapchat, etc.

But that doesn’t mean you should rush right out to rent an AWS server. Facebook’s choice of hosting is based on the nature of its products. They are gigantic. Billions of people all over the world use WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook itself. There’s no way that the company could get by using ordinary servers. They need some hefty cloud clusters to make those Social media giants run smoothly and be available for everyone whatever the circumstances. For smaller apps, however, there are much cheaper and simpler solutions.

How to choose the best hosting for mobile apps?

What hosting method is best for mobile apps? The choice depends entirely on the task and the software instruments used. If you want to have full control of the server and the app, you’ll want to check out some popular hosting providers. Where are the best apps hosted? They are usually hosted on platforms like DigitalOcean, AWS, Microsoft Azure, or another “classic” server with appropriate specifications.

For instance, these will provide you with SSL certificates (a utility that encrypts user data) and access to DNS settings. Furthermore, every webmaster should check the uptime of their hosting service. Best-in-class servers have an uptime of 99%. Furthermore, good hosting services have a security system that mitigates DDoS attacks and blocks malware. And, of course, the cost of hosting your application needs to be a good value.

Additionally, you should look for providers that support the software tools and frameworks used in your project. For example, Hostman works with React, Angular, Node.js, Python, Django, Flask, Ruby on Rails, etc. So if you have a question like “How do I host a React app?” the answer depends on the capabilities of the platform selected. Check them out before renting a server or cluster.

The best choice is to use PaaS products like Hostman or Heroku. Both use the most reliable infrastructures like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure, but at the same time they simplify the deployment process, so you get the best of both worlds.

How much does it cost to host an app?

A basic server with a hosting service like DigitalOcean will cost about $5 per month. For this price the developer or webmaster will get a server with 1 GB of RAM, 25 GB of SSD storage, and the ability to transfer 1000 GB of data per month. For the same price, you can get an automatically scaled app platform with no static hardware specifications.

If you want a more predictable pricing system and are wondering where to find one, try Hostman. With this service you can choose a budget server for basic applications with one 3.2 GHz CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of SSD storage for $5.50. Or you can get a powerful platform with six 3.2 GHz CPUs, 16 GB of RAM, and 320 GB on the fastest SSD for $72.80. 

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The final price may vary depending on the user base and hardware requirements of the product. But by using platforms like Hostman you will consistently get the best possible value, balanced between simplicity, stability, high performance, and reasonable price.

That’s it. Now you know whether an app maker needs a domain or not, how to choose hosting for a mobile application, and the most straightforward way to set it all up.

 
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What is DevOps: Practices, Methodology, and Tools

A software development methodology is a set of principles, approaches, and tools used to organize and manage the software creation process. It defines how the team works, how members interact and divide responsibilities, how product quality is controlled, and more. A methodology aims to regulate the development process and ensure the project is delivered according to the requirements, timelines, and budget. Various software development methodologies exist, from the Waterfall model to Extreme Programming. One such methodology is DevOps. In this article, we’ll explore what DevOps is, why it’s needed in software delivery, what problems it solves, and the core concepts behind the methodology. We’ll also cover the role of the DevOps engineer and their responsibilities within a team and development process. What is DevOps? DevOps is a relatively new software development concept rapidly gaining popularity and gradually replacing traditional development methodologies. In 2020, the global DevOps market was valued at around $6 billion. By 2027, according to ResearchAndMarkets, it’s expected to grow to $25 billion. The definition of DevOps is broad and not easy to pin down, especially compared to other areas of IT. What is DevOps in simple terms? It’s a methodology where Development, Operations, and Testing intersect and merge. But such a definition raises several valid questions: Where do the boundaries of DevOps begin and end? Which parts of development, testing, and maintenance fall outside of DevOps? Why is it necessary to link these processes? We’ll try to answer those below. The Traditional Software Release Process Development, testing, and operations are the three main phases of the software release lifecycle. Let’s examine them more closely. Whenever we develop software, we aim to deliver a working product to end users. This goal is consistent across methodologies—whether it's Waterfall, Agile, or any other: the end goal is to create and deliver a product. Let’s consider the traditional Waterfall model for application development — from idea to deployment: A software idea is born. The idea turns into a list of business requirements for the product. Developers write code and build the application. Testers verify its functionality and return it for revisions if needed. Once ready, the application needs to be delivered to users. For a web app, this includes building, configuring the server and environment, and deploying. After deployment, users start using the app. Ongoing support ensures the app is user-friendly and performs well under load. After release comes the improvement phase — adding features, optimizing, and fixing bugs. This cycle repeats with each update. One of DevOps’ primary goals is to make this cycle faster and more reliable. Let’s look at the challenges it addresses and how. Problems with the Waterfall Model In the Waterfall model, teams may face several issues that slow down the process, require significant effort to overcome, or introduce errors. 1. Poor collaboration between developers, operations, and testers As mentioned earlier, the release cycle involves development, testing, and operations. Each has its own responsibilities. But without collaboration: Developers may write code that isn’t deployment-ready. Operations may lack insight into how the app works. Testers might face delays due to insufficient documentation. These gaps lead to increased Time to Market (TTM) and higher budgets. 2. Conflicting priorities Development and operations don’t work closely in the Waterfall model. Developers want to innovate, while operations want stability. Since operations aren’t part of the development phase, they need more time to assess changes, creating friction and slowing down releases. 3. Idle teams One of the key characteristics of the waterfall model is its sequential nature. First, developers write the code, then testers check it, and only after that does the operations team deploy and maintain the application. Because of this step-by-step structure, there can be idle periods for different teams. For example, while testers check the application, developers wait for feedback and issues to fix. At the deployment stage, testers might review the entire product rather than a small update, which takes significantly more time. As a result, some teams may find themselves without tasks to work on. All these issues lead to longer release cycles and inflated budgets. Next, we’ll look at how DevOps helps address these problems—and how it does so. How DevOps Solves Waterfall Problems DevOps aims to minimize the above issues through automation, collaboration, and process standardization, making it easier and faster to integrate improvements. DevOps combines approaches, practices, and tools to streamline and accelerate product delivery. Because the concept is broad, different companies implement DevOps differently. Over time, common toolsets and practices have emerged across the industry. One common practice is introducing a DevOps engineer, responsible for creating communication and alignment between teams, and ensuring smooth product releases. What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A DevOps engineer aims to create and maintain an optimized application release pipeline. Here's how they do that: Automation and CI/CD DevOps's cornerstone is the development, testing, and deployment automation. This forms a CI/CD pipeline — Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment. Key DevOps stages and tools: Code: Managed in a shared repository (e.g., GitLab), facilitating automation and collaboration. Testing: Code changes are automatically tested using predefined test suites. If successful, the code moves to the build stage. Build: Code is compiled into a deployable application using tools like npm (JavaScript), Maven or Gradle (Java). Containerization & Orchestration: Apps are containerized (commonly with Docker) for consistent environments.For small setups, use Docker Compose; for large-scale setups, use Kubernetes. Artifacts are stored in repositories like Nexus or Docker Hub. Deployment: Tools like Jenkins automate app deployment. The result is a process where code changes are continually tested, integrated, and delivered to users. Infrastructure Management Thanks to CI/CD, teams can automatically deploy apps and updates to servers. Cloud platforms are often preferred over physical servers, offering better automation, scaling, and environment management. Monitoring Real-time monitoring ensures application availability and performance. Tools like Prometheus and Nagios track system metrics and availability. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Instead of manually configuring infrastructure, DevOps uses IaC tools like Terraform to automate and standardize environments. Scripts Scripts automate adjacent processes like backups. Tools: OS-specific: Bash (Linux), PowerShell (Windows) Cross-platform: Python, Go, Ruby (Python is most popular) Version Control DevOps uses version control for application code and infrastructure (e.g., Terraform configs). Important: Terraform stores sensitive data (e.g., passwords) in state files; these must not be stored in public repositories. Cross-Team Collaboration A major DevOps goal is to improve collaboration between departments. Shared tools, standards, and processes enable better communication and coordination. For example, DevOps acts as a bridge between development and operations, unifying workflows and expectations. Why Businesses Should Implement DevOps Benefits of DevOps: Speed: Automated testing, building, and deployment enable faster release cycles without sacrificing quality. This improves agility and market responsiveness. Predictability & Quality: Frequent, automated releases mean more reliable delivery timelines and better budget control. Lower Maintenance Costs: Automated infrastructure management and monitoring reduce downtime and labor, improving SLA compliance. Challenges: Organizational Change: Implementing DevOps may require cultural and structural shifts, along with training and adaptation. Automation Risks: Poorly implemented automation can introduce new problems — misconfigured scripts, faulty pipelines — so thorough testing is essential. Investment Required: DevOps needs upfront investment in tools, technologies, and training. Conclusion DevOps enables an automated, collaborative environment for development, testing, and deployment. 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21 May 2025 · 7 min to read
Infrastructure

Introduction to Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

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A year later, the team decided that this server was a single point of failure, and if something happened to it, the whole system could go down. So, they asked a new engineer to deploy and configure an identical server as a backup and set up load balancing. New engineer’s steps: Check the first server (gather info on resources, software, configuration) Create an identical virtual machine Install the operating system Set up remote access Update packages Install and configure Nginx Set up monitoring tools Launch the service During this, it's decided that running Nginx as a standalone service isn't ideal, and it's moved into Docker for easier updates and maintenance. Eventually, two servers will do the same task, but they will have different package versions and service launch methods. When a third server is needed, engineers must review the configurations of the first two, choose the most current version, and repeat all steps again. If the cloud provider changes, we must repeat the entire process. This simplified example highlights the core problem. Infrastructure as Code Advantages So, what do you gain by using Infrastructure as Code? Avoiding Repetition: No need to manually repeat the same steps on every server — automation reduces manual work and human error. Speed: Automated processes significantly speed up deployment compared to manual setup. Visibility and Control:  You don’t need to log in and inspect infrastructure manually. IaC allows you to: See all configurations in one place Track all infrastructure changes Ensure transparency Simplify modification and management Repeatability: No matter how many times the setup is run, the result will always be the same. This eliminates human error and omissions. Scalability and Security: Easier to scale infrastructure since all changes are documented. In case of incidents, configurations can be rolled back or restored. 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A standout feature is the Plan function, which compares the current and desired states before any action is taken and shows what will be created, deleted, or changed. Terraform is mainly used with cloud providers. Integration is done via a component called a Provider (which interacts with the provider’s API). A full list is available at registry.terraform.io. If the cloud vendor officially supports a provider, that's ideal. Sometimes community-developed providers are used, but if the provider's API changes, maintaining compatibility falls on the community or the developer. Pulumi A relatively new open-source tool. It allows infrastructure to be defined using general-purpose programming languages. You can use your favorite IDE with autocomplete, type checking, and documentation support. Supported languages include: TypeScript Python Go C# Java YAML Though not yet as popular, Pulumi's flexibility positions it as a strong contender. 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You can use linters to catch accidental mistakes, enforce code reviews, run tests before deployment, and follow a consistent code style. IaC enables versioning and tracking of every infrastructure change. This ensures transparency and lets you quickly identify and fix issues that might cause downtime, security threats, or technical failures. IaC is a rapidly evolving field in infrastructure management. Each year brings new tools, technologies, and standards that make infrastructure more flexible and efficient. There are even dedicated roles for IaC engineers as a specialized discipline.
20 May 2025 · 5 min to read
Infrastructure

Best Backend Frameworks for Web Development in 2025

Frameworks simplify development, eliminate chaos, and provide a clear structure when building an application. Each framework comes with a specific set of ready-made tools—battle-tested technical solutions that accelerate and simplify development. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 most popular backend frameworks for 2025—essential tools for nearly every modern application. Server Framework Tasks Typically, any server-side application performs a set of standard functions: Routing. Handling user requests via a REST API. Authentication. Managing user registration and login. Logic. Implementing the core server logic: generating page content, managing carts, handling messages, etc. Storage. Connecting to a (remote) database to write, read, and sort data. Payments. Processing payment transactions. Extensions. Supporting third-party software (libraries and frameworks) required for managing external devices: smartphones, personal computers, servers, etc. Microservices. Communicating with remote applications (such as microservices) via REST API. A good backend framework should satisfy all the above requirements, ensuring functionality, security, and performance in the final product. 1. ASP.NET Core ASP.NET Core is a cross-platform framework developed by Microsoft for building modern web applications and APIs. It works with the C# programming language and runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Importantly, ASP.NET Core is not the same as ASP.NET Framework. It is its evolutionary successor: a modern, modular, cross-platform solution. The framework uses the classic MVC (Model-View-Controller) design pattern to separate data and logic, dividing the application into three parts: Model, View, and Controller. Details Programming Language: C# Developer: Microsoft First Release: 2016 Features Cross-platform. Enables development and deployment on most popular operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS. Performance. Optimized for high performance and scalability, allowing apps to handle large numbers of requests. Modularity. Uses only the necessary components, making the application lightweight and flexible. Support. Actively maintained and updated by Microsoft, ensuring access to new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. Tooling. Integrates with modern development tools like Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code. Audience Thanks to its flexibility, ASP.NET Core is suitable not only for web development with its client-side services but also for mobile apps and games that require complex backend logic and fast database interactions. However, despite its cross-platform nature, ASP.NET Core remains more focused on Windows developers and users. The framework is especially beneficial for large enterprises and corporate developers who need to build scalable, high-performance, and fault-tolerant applications and microservices with a clear and strict architecture. Code Example of a basic routing setup in ASP.NET Core using the MVC template: Model: app.UseEndpoints(endpoints => { endpoints.MapControllerRoute( name: "default", pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}"); }); Controller: public class BooksController : Controller { public IActionResult Details(int id) { ViewBag.Id = id; return View(); } } View: @{ ViewData["Title"] = "Details"; int id = ViewBag.Id; } <h1>Details</h1> Book Id : @id 2. Django Django is a free, high-level framework written in Python that also follows the MVC design pattern. It’s a modular framework that heavily emphasizes the “Don’t Repeat Yourself” (DRY) principle, which helps reduce code redundancy and simplify maintenance. Each Django project consists of multiple apps that can be developed and tested independently. This allows for easy reuse across different projects. A key feature of the framework is its Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool, which allows developers to manage relational databases using only Python code—no SQL required. Details Programming Language: Python Developer: Django Software Foundation First Release: 2005 Features Reusability. The modular architecture makes it easy to reuse code and avoid duplication. Tools. Has a broad set of built-in features: authentication system, admin panel, router, database manager, etc. Support. Offers well-structured documentation and has a large developer community actively contributing and solving common issues. Audience Thanks to its built-in tools and modularity, Django is ideal for quickly creating and deploying MVPs (Minimum Viable Products). This makes it a great choice for startups and small businesses. At the same time, Django is also scalable enough to support enterprise-level solutions. Code A snippet of Django code for routing user requests: from rest_framework import routers from collaborativeAPP import views router = routers.DefaultRouter() router.register(r'get_one', views.OneViewSet) router.register(r'get_two', views.TwoViewSet) router.register(r'get_three', views.ThreeViewSet) urlpatterns = patterns( ... url(r'^service/', include(router.urls)) ) 3. Laravel Laravel is a popular PHP framework for building web applications that follows the MVC design pattern. It’s known for its clear syntax, the Blade templating engine, and the built-in task automation tool Artisan CLI. Laravel simplifies routine tasks, speeds up development, and delivers high application performance. It is supported by a large community and has extensive documentation, making it an accessible tool for modern web development. Details Programming Language: PHP Developer: Taylor Otwell + Community First Release: 2011 Features Syntax. Known for its high-level abstractions and clean, expressive syntax that simplifies writing and reading code, even for beginners. Templating. Has a built-in templating system that allows developers to create dynamic pages using powerful yet simple syntax. Community. Backed by a large and active developer community creating additional packages for the framework. Audience Laravel’s concise syntax is especially useful for beginner PHP developers and freelancers looking to enhance their projects with more functionality. Its simplicity and expressiveness also make it a popular choice in educational programs for teaching web development. Startup developers can also quickly test ideas and hypotheses using Laravel. Code A basic example of routing syntax in Laravel: Route::match(array('GET', 'POST'), '/', function() { return 'Main Page'; }); Route::post('foo/bar', function() { return 'Foo and Bar'; }); Route::get('user/{id}', function($id) { return 'User '.$id; }); 4. Ruby on Rails Ruby on Rails (or simply Rails) is a popular web development framework written in Ruby that provides a ready-made structure for writing code.  Its main feature is the “Convention over Configuration” principle, which radically changes the way web apps are developed by making it more intuitive and productive.  Instead of requiring developers to write extensive config files, Rails assumes sensible defaults, significantly reducing the amount of code needed. Details Programming Language: Ruby Developer: David Heinemeier Hansson First Release: 2004 Features Speed. With standardized conventions, developers can quickly start building functionality without extensive setup. Standardization. In addition to speeding up development, defaults make code easier to read and maintain, especially in teams Security. Includes built-in security features like protection against SQL injection, XSS, CSRF attacks, and more. Audience The main draw of Ruby on Rails is development speed. It’s perfect for those who need to rapidly prototype and validate new features. Sometimes, using an off-the-shelf CMS can either overcomplicate or limit your project’s flexibility. In such cases, Rails lets you easily build a custom engine for your web app with minimal effort. Code A simple example of a Rails controller for displaying articles: class ArticlesController < ApplicationController def index @articles = Article.recent end def show @article = Article.find(params[:id]) fresh_when etag: @article end def create article = Article.create!(article_params) redirect_to article end private def article_params params.require(:article).permit(:title, :content) end end 5. Express.js Express.js is the most popular (and possibly the best overall backend framework) minimalist web framework on the Node.js platform, used to create flexible HTTP servers using RESTful APIs. It's a powerful tool that suits a wide range of developers due to its simplicity and vast ecosystem. Details Programming language: JavaScript Developer: StrongLoop and IBM First release: 2010 Features Conciseness: Simple and clear syntax in JavaScript. Flexibility: The framework does not enforce a strict project structure, allowing developers to design their own application architecture. Isomorphism: With Express.js, it’s possible to use JavaScript both on the client (browser) and server side (Node.js), unifying the stack. Libraries: Being built on Node.js, Express.js gives access to tens of thousands of useful server-side packages for tasks like data serialization, math operations, database writing, network connection handling, etc. All written in JavaScript. Proven reliability: Despite many modern alternatives, Express.js has years of support and is considered a classic, well-polished option. Audience Beginner Node.js developers should absolutely get familiar with Express.js as it's used in 9 out of 10 web projects. Since it's written in JavaScript, it's an excellent gateway to backend development for frontend developers looking to build full-stack apps. For RESTful API developers, Express.js is a must-have. Due to its popularity and reliability, many consider it the only true JavaScript backend framework. Code The simplest Express.js app looks like this: const express = require('express') const app = express() const port = 3000 app.get('/', (req, res) => { res.send('Welcome!') }) app.listen(port, () => { console.log(`App is listening on port ${port}`) }) 6. CakePHP CakePHP is an open-source framework for PHP web development based on the MVC architecture. Originally designed as a PHP clone of Ruby on Rails, it adopted many of its ideas: Custom file structure Plugin-based extensibility Data abstraction tools Support for numerous databases Details Programming language: PHP Developer: Cake Software Foundation First release: 2005 Features Code generation: The Bake tool quickly creates model, controller, and view skeletons, speeding up development. Structure: The framework assumes a predefined file/class directory structure. If followed, it automatically loads needed files with no extra setup. Auto-routing: It automatically connects URLs to the corresponding controllers/actions, simplifying route creation. Audience CakePHP is quite versatile—suitable for both startups and large enterprises. However, its wide range of tools might require beginners to spend time learning. Code Example controller from the official documentation: namespace App\Controller; class ArticlesController extends AppController { public function index() { $this->loadComponent('Paginator'); $articles = $this->Paginator->paginate($this->Articles->find()); $this->set(compact('articles')); } } 7. Flask Flask is an extremely lightweight Python backend framework perfect for building small to medium-sized web apps. Simplicity and minimalism are its trademarks—it offers just the essentials for web development, while remaining flexible and versatile. Details Programming language: Python Developer: Armin Ronacher First release: 2010 Features Compactness: Lightweight and fast, with no unnecessary components, making it very easy to learn. Flexibility: Does not impose a specific structure, allowing diverse architectural approaches. Audience Flask is ideal for small projects and feature-testing prototypes. It’s a great entry point into Python web development for beginners. Even as a hobby project grows into a complex commercial app, Flask’s flexibility and scalability can support the transition. Code Here’s a simple app with a router that renders content: from flask import Flask, render_template app = Flask(__name__) @app.route('/') def index(): return render_template('index.html') @app.route('/about') def about(): return render_template('about.html') 8. Spring Boot Spring Boot is a powerful Java backend framework built on top of the lower-level Spring framework. It is part of the Spring ecosystem and provides tools that streamline and accelerate development. While Spring itself requires complex manual configuration, Spring Boot simplifies this through auto-configuration and ready-made templates. Details Programming language: Java Developer: Rod Johnson, VMware First release: 2014 Features Auto-configuration: Automatically configures based on defined dependencies, reducing the need for extensive config files. Built-in servers: Includes embedded servers like Tomcat, Jetty, and Undertow, allowing apps to run directly from the IDE or CLI. Audience Ideal for beginners exploring the Spring ecosystem—it makes learning much easier. Great for building microservices due to fast deployment of individual app components. Also plays well with Docker and orchestration systems like Kubernetes. Code A basic Spring Boot app from the official docs: package com.example.springboot; import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping; import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController; @RestController public class HelloController { @GetMapping("/") public String index() { return "Greetings from Spring Boot!"; } } 9. Koa Koa is a modern web framework for Node.js created by the same team behind Express.js. Naturally, it's written in JavaScript. Koa can be seen as a more expressive, minimalist, and flexible iteration of Express.js, removing many of its limitations and complexities. Details Programming language: JavaScript Developer: StrongLoop First release: 2017 Features Async-first: Designed for async/await from the ground up, making asynchronous code cleaner and more maintainable compared to traditional callbacks. Lightweight: Ships with no built-in middleware, so developers can pick and choose exactly what they need. Code A basic Koa app: 'use strict'; const Koa = require('koa'); const app = new Koa(); app.use(ctx => { ctx.body = 'Hello, Timeweb'; }); app.listen(3000); 10. Phoenix Phoenix is a modern web framework for the functional programming language Elixir. Programming language: Elixir Developer: Phoenix Framework First release: 2014 Features Performance: Uses Elixir and the Erlang VM, offering high performance and scalability via functional programming and concurrency. Clean code: Elixir's functional nature encourages clean, predictable, and maintainable code. Audience Best suited for developers who prefer functional programming, immutable data, and pure functions. It is also a great tool for Erlang developers who want to build web apps using familiar principles. Code A basic Phoenix router from the official docs: defmodule HelloWeb.Router do use HelloWeb, :router pipeline :browser do plug :accepts, ["html"] plug :fetch_session plug :fetch_live_flash plug :put_root_layout, html: {HelloWeb.Layouts, :root} plug :protect_from_forgery plug :put_secure_browser_headers end pipeline :api do plug :accepts, ["json"] end scope "/", HelloWeb do pipe_through :browser get "/", PageController, :home end end Conclusion We've looked at the most popular and well-established backend frameworks developers have relied on for years, and continue to rely on in 2025. Many of these frameworks are over 15 years old, which is a strong indicator of their maturity and suitability for various projects. They’ve all gone through numerous updates over time, adapting to technological changes and evolving developer needs. Their stability and robustness ensure they remain go-to tools for building modern applications.
19 May 2025 · 13 min to read

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