DEV Community

Cover image for How to Build Your Backend Fast: The Complete Guide for Frontend-First Builders
Pavel Ivanov for SashiDo.io

Posted on

How to Build Your Backend Fast: The Complete Guide for Frontend-First Builders

You built a stunning frontend with Lovable, v0, Bolt, or Cursor, maybe using the best coding app or the best ide for coding to generate components quickly. Your UI looks production-ready. Then reality hits. You need authentication, a database, file uploads, real-time updates, and suddenly you're drowning in AWS documentation at 2 AM.

The frontend-first approach has created a new bottleneck. Artificial intelligence for coding and coding ai free tools let you generate coding and ship interfaces in hours, but backends still take weeks. You're stuck choosing between spending days configuring infrastructure or paying enterprise prices for backend-as-a-service platforms that lock you into their ecosystem.

We built SashiDo to solve exactly this problem. Your entire backend deploys in minutes, not weeks. Database, APIs, authentication, file storage, real-time sync, background jobs, and serverless functions all work together from day one. No DevOps knowledge required. If you're evaluating the best low code platform or a low code app builder for rapid delivery, SashiDo positions itself as a practical, production-ready option among low code app development platforms.

The Frontend-First Reality

Modern builders start with the interface. Tools like Lovable and v0 generate React components, Bolt creates full applications, and Cursor helps you iterate on designs in real-time. Many developers now use the best coding app or best ide for coding alongside artificial intelligence coding assistants to accelerate UI work. This workflow makes sense because users experience your product through the frontend.

But every frontend needs a backend. Users need to log in. Data needs to persist. Files need storage. Actions need to trigger server-side logic. The moment you try to add these features, the momentum stops.

Traditional backend setup means making dozens of decisions. Which database? How do you handle authentication? Where do you store files? How do you deploy functions? Each choice leads to more configuration, more documentation, and more time before you can ship.

What Your Backend Actually Needs

Before diving into solutions, understand what a production backend requires. Missing any of these means going back to add it later, which always takes longer than building it right the first time.

  • Database with CRUD API. Your app needs to create, read, update, and delete data. The database should expose APIs your frontend can call directly without writing server code for every operation.

  • User authentication and management. Users need to sign up, log in, reset passwords, and manage their accounts. Social logins (Google, GitHub, Facebook) should work with configuration, not custom OAuth implementations.

  • File storage and delivery. Profile pictures, documents, videos. These files need secure storage, fast delivery via CDN, and handling for any file type without size limits that break your app.

  • Real-time data sync. Modern apps feel instant. When one user makes a change, other users see it immediately. This requires WebSocket connections that sync client state globally.

  • Background jobs. Email sending, data processing, scheduled tasks. These operations need to run reliably without blocking user requests or requiring separate worker infrastructure.

  • Serverless functions. Custom business logic that runs server-side. Payment processing, third-party API calls, data transformations. Deploy JavaScript functions that execute on-demand close to your users.

  • Mobile push notifications. Re-engage users who aren't actively using your app. Cross-platform support for iOS and Android without managing notification infrastructure.

If you're exploring low code app development platforms or a low code app builder, confirm they cover these features out of the box. Many builders focus on UI and rely on additional integrations for the backend, and that adds complexity.

How SashiDo Delivers Your Complete Backend

We provide every backend component in one integrated platform. When you create a SashiDo app, you get a MongoDB database with a REST API and GraphQL endpoint, complete user management with social auth, AWS S3 storage with built-in CDN, real-time WebSocket sync, background job scheduling, and serverless function deployment.

This integration matters because these components need to work together. Your authentication system needs to secure your database queries. Your file storage needs to integrate with your user records. Your background jobs need database access. Building these connections yourself takes weeks. We handle it from the start.

Database and APIs That Work Immediately

Every SashiDo app includes a MongoDB database with automatically generated REST and GraphQL APIs. Create a "Posts" collection in the dashboard, and you immediately have endpoints for creating posts, querying posts, updating posts, and deleting posts. No API code to write.

The Parse Platform SDK handles the client-side integration. In your React app, you query data like this:

const query = new Parse.Query('Posts');
query.equalTo('published', true);
const posts = await query.find();
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The SDK manages authentication tokens, handles errors, and provides offline support. Your frontend code stays clean while the backend handles data persistence, validation, and access control. This approach makes SashiDo attractive when you want a good coding software stack that pairs with low-code UI generation and artificial intelligence coding tools.

Authentication Without Configuration Hell

User management works out of the box. Sign up, login, password reset, email verification, and session management all function without additional setup. Add social logins by enabling providers in your dashboard. Google, Facebook, GitHub, Microsoft, GitLab, Twitter, Discord all connect with single-click configuration.

// Email/password signup
const user = new Parse.User();
user.set('username', 'builder');
user.set('email', 'builder@example.com');
user.set('password', 'secure-password');
await user.signUp();

// Google social login
await Parse.User.logInWith('google');
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Access control integrates with your database queries. Set permissions on collections and objects to control who can read or write data. The system enforces these rules automatically, protecting your data without custom middleware.

Discover how built-in auth enforces security rules automatically. No custom middleware needed. See Auth in Action

File Storage That Scales

Store any file type with our AWS S3 integration. Upload from your frontend, and files automatically distribute through our built-in CDN for fast delivery worldwide. No file size limits, no bandwidth restrictions at the base tier.

const fileUpload = document.getElementById('file-input');
const parseFile = new Parse.File(fileUpload.files[0].name, fileUpload.files[0]);
await parseFile.save();

// Associate with a user or object
currentUser.set('profilePicture', parseFile);
await currentUser.save();
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The CDN handles caching and delivery. Your files serve quickly regardless of user location. Storage scales automatically as your app grows, from megabytes to terabytes without infrastructure changes.

Real-Time Sync for Modern Apps

Real-time features make apps feel responsive. We provide WebSocket-based Live Queries that push updates to connected clients immediately when data changes.

const query = new Parse.Query('Messages');
query.equalTo('chatRoom', currentRoom);

const subscription = await query.subscribe();

subscription.on('create', (message) => {
  // New message appears instantly
  displayMessage(message);
});

subscription.on('update', (message) => {
  // Edited messages update live
  updateMessage(message);
});
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This works across all connected clients. When one user sends a message, everyone in the chat sees it instantly. The infrastructure handles connection management, reconnection logic, and state synchronization.

Background Jobs for Reliable Operations

Schedule recurring tasks or queue operations that shouldn't block user requests. We integrate MongoDB with Agenda for job scheduling, managed through the SashiDo Dashboard.

Common use cases include sending daily email digests, processing uploaded files, cleaning up old data, generating reports, and syncing with external APIs. Jobs run reliably with retry logic and monitoring.

Your base plan includes one background job. Additional jobs cost $10 each per month. For most apps, one or two jobs handle all scheduled operations.

Serverless Functions Close to Users

Deploy JavaScript functions that execute server-side without managing servers. Write custom business logic, integrate third-party APIs, or process data that requires server-side security.

Parse.Cloud.define('processPayment', async (request) => {
  const { amount, token } = request.params;

  // Call payment API
  const charge = await stripe.charges.create({
    amount: amount,
    currency: 'usd',
    source: token,
  });

  // Save transaction
  const transaction = new Parse.Object('Transactions');
  transaction.set('chargeId', charge.id);
  transaction.set('amount', amount);
  await transaction.save();

  return { success: true, chargeId: charge.id };
});
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Functions deploy in Europe and North America, executing close to your users for low latency. Update functions by pushing code to your connected GitHub repository. Deployments happen automatically.

Push Notifications That Re-Engage Users

Send unlimited push notifications to iOS and Android devices. Cross-platform SDKs handle device registration and message delivery. No per-notification costs, no volume limits.

Configure your APNs certificates for iOS and FCM credentials for Android in the dashboard. Then send notifications programmatically or through the dashboard interface. Target specific users, segments, or broadcast to everyone.

We send 50 million push notifications daily to 23 million users across 38 million devices in 102 countries. The infrastructure scales from your first notification to enterprise volume without configuration changes.

Pricing That Makes Sense for Builders

Start with a 10-day free trial, no credit card required. Test the full platform and build your app before paying anything.

Production apps cost $4.95 per month with included resources that handle most early-stage apps:

  • 1 million monthly requests
  • 40GB file storage
  • 1GB database storage
  • 500GB data transfer
  • 1 background job
  • 1 development engine
  • Unlimited push notifications

Additional resources scale with usage. Extra requests cost $0.30 per 100,000. Additional storage costs $0.06 per GB for files and $16 per GB for database. Data transfer beyond 500GB costs $0.13 per GB.

Check current pricing for the latest details and engine options. Pricing evolves based on infrastructure costs and customer feedback.

When You Need More Performance

Apps grow. As traffic increases, you may need more computing power. Our Engine feature lets you scale your backend without changing code.

Engines define the compute resources allocated to your app. The development engine (1X) works for building and testing. Production engines range from 1X to 4X, with pricing starting at $0.023 per hour based on engine size.

Scaling happens in the dashboard. Select a larger engine, and your app automatically provisions more resources. No infrastructure knowledge required, no migration process, no downtime.

Advanced users can add Redis for message brokering (from $12/month) or dedicated MongoDB replicas for full database control (from $180/month). Most apps never need these options, but they're available when requirements demand them.

Getting Started Takes Minutes

Create your account and deploy your first app through our Getting Started Guide. The process takes about 15 minutes from signup to working backend.

  1. Sign up at SashiDo and create your first app
  2. Connect your GitHub repository for code deployment
  3. Configure your database collections in the dashboard
  4. Add the Parse SDK to your frontend application
  5. Deploy your first Cloud Function if needed
  6. Enable social auth providers you want to support
  7. Configure file storage and CDN settings

Part 2 of the guide covers advanced features like real-time queries, background jobs, and push notifications. Work through both guides to understand the full platform capabilities.

Our documentation includes Parse Platform guides, SDK references, and SashiDo-specific tutorials. The Parse Platform has extensive community resources since millions of developers use it globally.

If you're comparing good coding software stacks or testing artificial intelligence for coding assistants, use SashiDo as the backend layer to pair with the best ide for coding or the best coding app you're already using.

Common Questions

How does SashiDo compare to Firebase or Supabase?

We focus on simplicity and integrated features. Firebase requires learning Google's ecosystem and pricing model. Supabase gives you PostgreSQL but requires more configuration. SashiDo provides everything working together from day one. MongoDB database, complete auth, file storage with CDN, real-time sync, jobs, and functions all integrated. Our pricing is transparent with a low base cost and predictable scaling.

Can I migrate my existing backend to SashiDo?

Yes. If you're using Parse Platform already, migration is straightforward since we're built on Parse. For other backends, you'll need to migrate your data and rewrite API calls to use Parse SDKs. Most teams complete migrations in a few days. We provide support during the process.

What happens if I outgrow SashiDo?

Your app stays portable. Parse Platform is open source. Export your data anytime and host Parse yourself if needed. We've supported apps from prototype to production scale. Companies like Product Hunt, Cirque du Soleil, and Cloudflare use our platform. We handle 140,000 requests per second at peak and 59 billion monthly requests across all customers.

Do you support mobile apps?

Fully. We provide SDKs for iOS, Android, JavaScript, Unity, and more. Push notifications work cross-platform. The backend APIs work identically for web and mobile apps. Many customers build both web and mobile apps on the same SashiDo backend.

How reliable is the platform?

We maintain 24/7 platform monitoring with 98% customer satisfaction. High availability features include zero-downtime deployments and self-healing infrastructure. Optional database backups ($15/month) provide daily backups with unlimited storage. Our infrastructure has supported production apps since 2016.

Ship Your Backend Today

Frontend-first development shouldn't stop at the backend. You built your interface quickly because modern tools removed the complexity. Your backend should work the same way.

We provide the complete backend infrastructure you need. Database, APIs, authentication, storage, real-time sync, jobs, functions, and push notifications all working together. Deploy in minutes, not weeks. Scale without DevOps knowledge.

Over 12,000 developers have built 19,000 apps on our platform. Companies in 100+ countries trust us with their backend infrastructure. Start your free trial and ship faster.

Launch your backend in minutes, start a 10-day free trial with no credit card required. Start 10-Day Free Trial


Related Articles

Top comments (0)