Backend
Idempotency Keys in Practice: Making Retries Safe
How to design and implement idempotency keys so retried requests never double-charge, double-send, or double-create resources.
·5 min read
Tags
api-design
17 articles
Backend
Contract-First API Design with OpenAPI and TypeScript
Stop letting your API spec drift from your implementation — define the contract first, generate types for both sides, and let the compiler catch the gaps.
·4 min read
Backend
Building Type-Safe GraphQL APIs with Code Generation
A practical guide to achieving end-to-end type safety in GraphQL applications using schema-first code generation, covering resolver typing, client-side query types, and eliminating runtime type mismatches between frontend and backend.
·3 min read
Backend
Rate Limiting Strategies for APIs: Algorithms and Implementation
A deep dive into rate limiting algorithms including token bucket, sliding window, and leaky bucket with distributed implementations using Redis and practical middleware patterns.
·4 min read
Tutorials
Building a Full-Stack Type-Safe API with tRPC and Next.js
A complete tutorial on building end-to-end type-safe APIs using tRPC with Next.js App Router, covering router setup, middleware chains, input validation, and real-time subscriptions.
·5 min read
Backend
Designing Idempotent APIs: Safely Retrying Failed Requests
Build idempotent API endpoints that handle retries safely using idempotency keys, database constraints, and state machines with TypeScript examples covering payment processing, order creation, and webhook delivery.
·4 min read
Backend
Designing Efficient Pagination for Large Datasets
Compare offset, cursor, and keyset pagination strategies with practical implementations showing performance characteristics, trade-offs, and when each approach fits your API design.
·4 min read
Tutorials
Building a GraphQL Server From Scratch
A step-by-step tutorial for building a GraphQL server with TypeScript — covering schema design, resolvers, dataloaders for N+1 prevention, authentication, error handling, and deployment patterns.
·4 min read
Tutorials
Building a Rate Limiter From Scratch
A step-by-step tutorial for building rate limiters using the token bucket, sliding window, and fixed window algorithms — with TypeScript implementations, Redis integration, and production deployment patterns.
·4 min read
Tutorials
Building a URL Shortener from Scratch
A step-by-step tutorial for building a URL shortener service with short code generation, redirect handling, click analytics, and rate limiting — covering the full system design from database schema to API.
·5 min read
Backend
gRPC vs REST: When to Use What
A practical comparison of gRPC and REST for backend services — covering performance characteristics, developer experience, streaming capabilities, and the tradeoffs that determine which protocol fits your use case.
·4 min read
Backend
GraphQL Subscriptions for Real-Time Features
A hands-on guide to implementing GraphQL subscriptions for real-time updates — covering WebSocket transport, subscription resolvers, filtering, and scaling considerations.
·4 min read
Backend
Rate Limiting Algorithms: Token Bucket, Sliding Window, and Beyond
A deep dive into rate limiting algorithms with implementations, trade-offs, and guidance on choosing the right approach for your API.
·4 min read
Backend
Idempotency in API Design: Safe Retries for Distributed Systems
Network failures mean requests are retried — idempotent API design ensures that processing the same request twice produces the same result, preventing duplicate charges and orders.
·4 min read
Backend
API Versioning Strategies: When and How to Version
Every API evolves — the question is whether you version through URL paths, headers, or query parameters, and how you handle breaking changes without breaking clients.
·3 min read
Architecture
GraphQL vs REST: Choosing the Right API Style
GraphQL isn't a REST replacement — it's an alternative with different trade-offs that matter depending on your client complexity, team size, and data shape.
·3 min read
Backend
REST API Design: Beyond the Basics
Once you know the HTTP verbs, the real challenge begins — pagination, filtering, error formats, and versioning patterns that make APIs a pleasure to consume.
·3 min read