A summary of tools and platforms enabling integrated development across API, UI, and databases: VS Code, Postman, Swagger for API design; React with Apollo for UI-API; EF Core and Hasura for databases; Firebase for backend services; Insomnia for API debugging; Spring Boot for full-stack Java; and HashedIn Accelerate for rapid multi-layer development.
What Tools and Frameworks Support Integrated Development When Choosing API, UI, or Database as the Starting Point?
AdminA summary of tools and platforms enabling integrated development across API, UI, and databases: VS Code, Postman, Swagger for API design; React with Apollo for UI-API; EF Core and Hasura for databases; Firebase for backend services; Insomnia for API debugging; Spring Boot for full-stack Java; and HashedIn Accelerate for rapid multi-layer development.
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Visual Studio Code VS Code - All-in-One Development Environment
VS Code is a highly versatile code editor that supports developing APIs, UIs, and database integrations through a wide array of extensions. It offers language support, Git integration, debugging tools, and extensions like REST Client for API testing, Live Server for web UI preview, and SQL tools for database management—making it an excellent choice for integrated development starting from any point.
Postman - API Development and Testing
Postman is a powerful tool focused on API development, allowing developers to design, test, and document APIs. It supports integrated workflows by enabling the creation of mock servers and automated tests, which can then be linked to UI development or database calls, fostering a smooth transition between API-first and UI or database development approaches.
SwaggerOpenAPI - API Design and Documentation Framework
Swagger (part of the OpenAPI ecosystem) provides a specification and tools to design and document APIs cleanly. Starting with API-first development, tools like Swagger Editor and Swagger UI allow creating API contracts that frontend (UI) and backend (database) teams can implement simultaneously, promoting integration and collaboration.
Reactjs with Apollo Client - UI Development Integrated with APIs
React.js is a popular frontend framework that integrates well with APIs, especially GraphQL APIs accessed through Apollo Client. Starting with UI, developers can tightly couple their components to API endpoints, enabling real-time data fetching and caching. Apollo’s DevTools also help visualize API interactions alongside UI elements.
Entity Framework Core - Database-First or Code-First ORM
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a .NET ORM supporting both database-first and code-first approaches. This allows starting with database schema design and then generating code models or vice versa. It integrates well with backend API projects, making the development of data-driven applications smoother by bridging database and API layers.
Hasura - Instant GraphQL APIs on Databases
Hasura provides a powerful way to instantly generate GraphQL APIs over existing databases. By starting from the database, Hasura automatically creates realtime APIs accessible by UI or other backend services. This accelerates integrated development by eliminating manual API coding and ensuring data-driven UI applications can be developed rapidly.
Firebase Platform - Backend-as-a-Service with UI and Database Integration
Firebase offers an integrated development platform combining real-time databases, authentication, cloud functions (API-like backend logic), and hosting for UIs. Developers can start from the database or UI and easily connect them through Firebase SDKs, supporting rapid app development with real-time synchronization and built-in backend services.
Insomnia - API Design and Debugging Tool
Insomnia is a user-friendly API client that supports designing, debugging, and testing REST and GraphQL APIs. Its plugin system and environment variables allow seamless integration with UI and database projects, facilitating a development environment where API changes immediately reflect across frontend and backend layers.
Spring Boot with Spring Data - Full-stack Java Framework
Spring Boot simplifies API and backend development, while Spring Data provides database access layers. Combined with UI frameworks like Thymeleaf or React (via Spring WebFlux), these tools enable starting from any point—API, UI, or database—while maintaining strong integration, dependency injection, and configuration capabilities across the stack.
HashedIn Accelerate - Integrated Platform for API UI and Database
HashedIn Accelerate is a lesser-known but powerful platform that supports integrated application development across API, UI, and database layers. It offers scaffolding tools, schema designs, and frontend generators that enable developers to start from any layer and quickly build connected components, ensuring consistency and faster delivery.
What else to take into account
This section is for sharing any additional examples, stories, or insights that do not fit into previous sections. Is there anything else you'd like to add?