How Supabase is changing the BaaS landscape

What is Supabase?

Supabase is a Backend as a Service (BaaS) platform that provides developers with a comprehensive suite of backend functionalities, such as databases, user authentication, and real-time updates. Supabase makes backend development easier with its user-friendly interface and advanced features, allowing developers to concentrate on creating strong applications without dealing with intricate infrastructure. Its open-source nature guarantees adaptability and authority, which is why it has become a top pick for current web and mobile app development.

“Build in a weekend. Scale to millions.”

This quote comes from the people at Supabase themselves, and they mean it. The fact that almost a dozen applications built on Supabase have grown from 0 to 1 million users is a testimony to the rapid development and substantial scaling that Supabase offers.

But, what makes Supabase different from other similar tools?

Supabase vs Firebase: key differences

One of the main competitors of Supabase is Firebase, which was developed by Google. While their names are similar, the two platforms differentiate themselves, particularly in their underlying technologies and approaches. Let’s take a look at the key differences, as well as at what has allowed Supabase to become so disruptive in the BaaS landscape.

Open-Source Nature

Supabase is fully open-source, which means developers can inspect, modify and contribute to the codebase. Naturally, this transparency speaks to developers who prefer open-source solutions and want the flexibility to customize their backend infrastructure. In contrast, Firebase is a proprietary platform. While Firebase is widely trusted and reliable, its closed-source nature limits flexibility and control for developers.

PostgreSQL-Based Database

Supabase uses PostgreSQL as its database, providing robust data management capabilities and support for complex queries. This choice provides developers with many advantages. Here are a few of them:

• SQL Queries: Developers can use SQL for querying data, which is familiar to many and offers powerful data manipulation capabilities.

• ACID Compliance: PostgreSQL ensures data integrity and reliability through ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties.

• Advanced Features: PostgreSQL supports advanced features like complex queries, full-text search and JSONB, making it versatile for many different mobile and web applications.

This contrasts with Firebase's NoSQL approach, which can be beneficial for certain types of applications but may be less suitable for applications requiring complex querying and structured data.

Real-time capabilities

Supabase’s real-time capabilities represent an amazing benefit for developers. Any changes in the database can be instantly broadcast to subscribers. The built-in support for real-time data synchronization enables developers to create responsive, live-updating applications with ease.

Firebase's Realtime Database and Firestore also provide real-time features, which are a strong point of Firebase. This being said, Supabase's approach stands out by integrating seamlessly with SQL thus making it more intuitive for developers familiar with relational databases.

Comprehensive feature set

Supa base offers a wide range of features including authentication, real-time database, storage, serverless functions and row-level security, rivaling and in some cases surpassing established BaaS platforms.

For instance, the Supabase Auth system is flexible and supports various authentication methods (email/password, OAuth providers, etc.). Additionally, Supabase's storage feature enables the management and serving of large files, seamlessly integrating with the database for metadata and permissions. Another example is Supabase’s integrated security features, like row-level security and SSL/TLS encryption, which address growing concerns about data protection in backend services.

Pricing and vendor lock-in

Compared to other BaaS providers, Supabase pricing, which charges based on storage rather than requests, can be much more economical. Similarly, Supabase’s open-source model helps mitigate concerns about vendor lock-in, which is always best to stay away from. It allows for easier migration between providers, giving developers more freedom compared to closed ecosystems like Firebase.

Great for scalability

Referring back to Supabase’s tagline, scalability is a big deal to Supabase and its users. Supabase has been proven to support applications as they grew from small prototypes to large-scale products with millions of users. The open-source Firebase alternative achieves this by using PostgreSQL, a robust and scalable relational database, as its foundation; providing a serverless architecture that automatically scales with demand; offering edge functions for distributed computing; and implementing row-level security for fine-grained access control as user bases grow.

Innovating with Supabase and Miyagami

By bringing all these amazing features and providing developers with a powerful, flexible and open alternative to traditional backend solutions, Supabase is challenging the status quo in the BaaS market. This shift is driving innovation in the space while expanding the possibilities for creating scalable, secure and efficient backend infrastructure.

Looking to make the most of Supabase or in need of a customized backend solution that fits your specific needs? Miyagami is here to help. Reach out today to discuss your next project and see how we can bring your vision to life with cutting-edge technology and expert development services.