When developing apps there are often use cases that needs storing some data on a server, e.g. usernames, POI's, PushToken,... The development of backends includes a lot of challenges like using the right language, defining the right architecture that scales, choosing a hoster, a database and so on. The presentation will introduce the backend-as-a-service approach, were scaling backends can be configured in minutes. An example with http://www.apiOmat.com will be given.

1. Creating Backends
in Minutes with
Backend as a Service
Philipp Michel, @phimi_
Dr. Lutz Kohl, @lutzkohl
@moosecon 2013
06.03.2013, Hannover
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

2. Why we created a
Backend as a Service
• We are a Team of Backend-Devs,
Frontend-Devs and ProjectManagers
• We have developed several apps
• Backend has always been „pain in the
ass“ that no one is willing to pay
• so we decided to make things easier
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

3. Do you need a
Backend?
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

4. new
App
with
without or Backend
Backend
Instagram
Rapunzel
XING
Toothbrush
WWM
Flashlight
kaufDA
Rechnen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

5. with
Backend
Backend new
exists or Backend
Immoscout24 Wunderlist
DB Navigator Angry Birds
HRS Hotels IT-Gipfel
Amazon myTaxi
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

6. new
Backend
selfmade or BaaS
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

7. selfmade
Where is the
problem?
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

8. new
Backend
selfmade or BaaS
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

9. BaaS
What does
Backend as a Service
offer?
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

10. Database
Server
Rest-­‐Api
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

11. Data
Business
model Logic
Database
Server
Rest-­‐Api
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

12. Push
Im-­‐
Export
Data
Business
Connect
to
FB,TwiDer...
model Logic
Database Messaging
Server Backup
Rest-­‐Api
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

13. Push
Im-­‐
Export
Data
Business
Connect
to
FB,TwiDer...
model Logic
Database Messaging
Server Backup
Rest-­‐Api
CRUD
+
Queries
Datamodels
iOS
App
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

14. Push
Im-­‐
Export
Data
Business
Connect
to
FB,TwiDer...
model Logic
Database Messaging
Server Backup
Rest-­‐Api
CRUD
+
Queries CRUD
+
Queries
Datamodels Datamodels
iOS
Android
App App
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

15. Push
Im-­‐
Export
Data
Business
Connect
to
FB,TwiDer...
model Logic
Database Messaging
Server Backup
Rest-­‐Api
CRUD
+
Queries CRUD
+
Queries CRUD
+
Queries
Datamodels Datamodels Datamodels
iOS
Android
Dashboard
Website
App App
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

16. Cloud
hosted Push
Im-­‐
Export
Data
Business
Connect
to
FB,TwiDer...
model Logic
Database Messaging
Server Backup
Rest-­‐Api
CRUD
+
Queries CRUD
+
Queries CRUD
+
Queries
Datamodels Datamodels Datamodels
iOS
Android
Dashboard
Website
App App
apiOmat
provides
everything
blue
on
this
screen
You
will
have
to
do
the
red
things
on
this
screen
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

17. BaaS Functionalities
crud your data
multi platform sdks
push
geo queries
user management
data editor
pic hosting
query language
im/export
custom business logic
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

18. new
Backend
selfmade or BaaS
slow dev speed fast
full customizability depends
expensive dev cost cheap
depends scalability promised
depends security promised
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

19. BaaS -
Myth With choosing a BaaS-Provider...
...I will be locked in his system
No. You own the data. You can export it.
...I won‘t be flexible enough
No. You can inject custom backend logic.
... I cannot connect to my existing data
No. You can import/connect your data.
... my Data will be somewhere on the world
No. apiOmat is completely hosted in Germany.
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

20. Let‘s see how it works!
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

21. Example: www.citykit.de
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

22. CityKit
• Adresses, Offers, Coupons,
Appointments around the user
• 30 Data Model Classes, csv import
• Native iOS & Android App
• PHP-Website, GWT-Dashboard
• only 2 month for planning and
implementing backend and iOS-App
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

23. Generic vs. generated
SDK
• if we would have used a generic sdk
we would have implemented 30 data
models 4 times
• we edited the data models on the
website --> 120 classes in the sdks
were generated automatically
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

24. Kostenvergleich
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

25. Backend costs of a medium sized App
with 3 frontends (iOS, Android, Web)
selfmade vs. BaaS
27.100 € Setup 3.000 €
13.200 € Costs per year 4.800 €
93.100 € after 5 years 27.000 €
Donnerstag, 7. März 13

26. Contact
• http://www.apiomat.com
• info@apiomat.com
• @APIOMAT
• +apiomat
• Facebook Page
Donnerstag, 7. März 13