Altair GraphQL vs Serverless AppSync: What are the differences?

Altair GraphQL and Serverless AppSync are two popular tools used in web development. While both serve the purpose of building APIs and managing data, there are several key differences between them. Below are the key differences between Altair GraphQL and Serverless AppSync explained in detail.

1. Supported Platforms: Altair GraphQL is a versatile tool that can be used with any GraphQL server and supports multiple platforms including web, desktop, and mobile. On the other hand, Serverless AppSync is specifically designed for building serverless applications on cloud platforms like AWS.

2. Middleware and Customization: Altair GraphQL allows developers to easily add custom middleware to their GraphQL server, providing flexibility in modifying the server behavior. Serverless AppSync, however, has limited options for customization and only supports AWS services for adding additional functionality.

3. Real-time Data and Subscriptions: Altair GraphQL provides real-time data updates and supports GraphQL subscriptions out of the box. This makes it suitable for applications that require live data streaming. Serverless AppSync also supports real-time data updates and subscriptions but offers additional features like automatic conflict resolution and offline data synchronization.

4. Security and Authentication: Altair GraphQL does not provide built-in security features and developers need to implement authentication and authorization mechanisms themselves. In contrast, Serverless AppSync offers built-in authentication and authorization capabilities using Amazon Cognito or other AWS services, making it easier to secure the application.

5. Data Sources and Integrations: Altair GraphQL allows developers to connect to any data source and integrate with various APIs and databases. It provides a flexible way of fetching data from different sources. Serverless AppSync is tightly integrated with AWS services and supports seamless data integration with services like DynamoDB, Aurora, and Elasticsearch.

6. Pricing and Cost: Altair GraphQL is an open-source tool and does not have any licensing costs associated with it. However, the cost of hosting and maintaining the GraphQL server depends on the chosen hosting platform. Serverless AppSync is a managed service provided by AWS and has its own pricing model based on the number of requests, data transfer, and additional services used.

In Summary, Altair GraphQL is a versatile tool supporting multiple platforms and easy customization, while Serverless AppSync is a specialized tool for building serverless applications on AWS with built-in security features and integrations with AWS services.