The Backend Tools List You Must Know

Backend development has great significance in the programming world. That is why the demand for backend engineers is accelerating.

Although the average yearly salary of a backend developer in the United States is $155,681 but, the workload is also high.

However, software engineers can overcome this pressure using advanced server-side tools. These backend tools, such as databases, frameworks, BaaS, and libraries, are responsible for the server-side functioning of applications and websites. 

So, whether you are a business executive or a developer and willing to work more efficiently, you must consider these options. Let’s discuss these tools one by one.

What are Backend Tools?

Backend tools are the utilities that developers use to craft the server side of mobile and web applications.

These tools let the dev teams administer backlogged data, seamlessly add business logic, and communicate with the app’s client side. 

These BaaS solutions, frameworks, libraries, and databases make it effortless for programmers to run and build highly extensible applications.  

Type of Backend Tools

Let’s discuss the different types of backend tools:

Backend as a Service 

It is a cloud computing model that allows you to employ built-in backend functionalities.

So, you can focus on frontend and core business, and BaaS platforms take responsibility for behind-the-scenes operations.

Real-time databases, APIs, cloud functions, authentication, and storage are critical properties of Backend as a Service (BaaS) providers.

Back4app, Firebase, and Backendless are prominent names in this regard.

Databases

A database is an assembled collection of data. Businesses and developers use databases to backlog, access, edit, and update different types of data.

NoSQL and relational DBs are two major types of data schemas used to store backend data.

Postgres, Oracle, and MySQL are a few reliable database management systems. 

Web Servers

A web server comprises hardware and software that utilizes different protocols, including HTTP, FTP, and SMTP, to answer client requests over the internet.

Users usually make these requests to approach numerous web pages on browsers.  

Hereof, its hardware components are associated with the internet and let you swap the information with synced devices. On the other hand, software supervises the way users get the files. 

Apache, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), Lighttpd, and Nginx are commonly used web servers. 

Programming Languages 

The written instructions that developers use to communicate with computers and create programs and commands refer to programming languages.

Every programming language has its syntax, error-handling capabilities, architecture, and rules. 

JavaScript, Python, Java, C#, and PHP are popular server-side programming languages in this regard. 

Frameworks

A framework is a group of prepackaged and utilizable components that help in building applications skillfully.

Indeed, with a built-in compiler, libraries, APIs, code modules, and other elements, it becomes easy to craft applications efficiently. 

Node.js, Django, Spring, ASP.NET Core, and Laravel are some distinguished frameworks.  

Other Tools 

Git-hosted platforms, code editors, scripting hubs, and AI platforms also play crucial roles in backend development. These tools improve script quality and offer great assistance to programmers. 

Docker, GitHub, Sublime Text, and Jira are prominent names hereof.

The Best Backend Tools

Backend as a Service

Here are the most reliable BaaS or Backend as a Service platforms:

Back4app

Back4app is an AI-powered, low-code Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider famous for creating, scaling, and deploying advanced applications.

With a 300k developers’ community, this open-source BaaS vendor has shipped 400,000 applications. 

Its real-time database enables you to store, illustrate, and fetch data using SDKs and APIs. Moreover, this backend tool has cloud functions to add server-side logic to your applications smoothly.

Similarly, Back4app offers a well-synced user authentication system to businesses and developers. With this feature, you don’t have to write the extra code.

Push notifications, a free tier plan, and file storage are further perks of using this server-side development platform.  

Firebase

Firebase is another all-in-one BaaS solution backed by Google Cloud. This Backend as a Service (BaaS) provider offers a wide range of products for building, running, deploying, and extending mobile and web applications on the fly. 

You can use its Firestore and Realtime databases to store NoSQL schemas. Correspondingly, it lets you backlog and query relational data using Data Connect functionality.

The availability of multi-platform SDKs and thorough documentation facilitates the developers to support their C++, Swift, JS, Dart, and Unity projects. 

Highly scalable cloud storage, prepackaged user authentication, remote configuration, and seamless integrations are also appealing highlights of Firebase.

In addition, Spark Plan doesn’t cost you anything for limited instances. 

Backendless

Backendless is a lightweight, modern, low-code/no-code app development platform. Although it offers various backend programming tools, its graphical user interface and visual database give it an edge over other vendors. 

Yes, it is convenient to build, deploy, run, and scale mobile and web applications using this platform. With real-time capabilities, its database feature backs both SQL and NoSQL data structures.

Similarly, its codeless logic enables you to perform distinct server-side functionalities without having technical knowledge.

Other properties of Backendless include built-in user management, a free tier package, Hive storage, caching, cloud code, and bulletproof security. 

Databases

Here are the critical databases you can use for backend programming:

Postgres

Postgres is an open-source and widely used relational DBMS that supports JSON and SQL querying.

This database aids dev teams in handling large datasets, ensures data integrity, and crafts fault-tolerant ecosystems. 

Moreover, this scalable DBMS can backlog data for analytics, enterprise-grade projects, and mobile, web, and spatial applications.

This freemium solution also has ample community support. A survey by Stack Overflow gave PostgreSQL the first rank with 48.7% votes. 

Cross-platform support, ACID traits, optimized performance, and backing for deep languages are also appealing features of this database. 

MySQL

According to Stack Overflow, MySQL is the second most highly acclaimed relational database, with 40.3% votes.

This SQL-based database is robust for gathering, fetching, and organizing information for eCommerce sites, web, and big data apps. 

With multi-platform capabilities, it supports almost all operating systems, including macOS, Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, etc.

Similarly, it is highly compatible with popular backend technologies such as Node.js, PHP, Python, Java, JS, Go, and Ruby.

MySQL is also the prime choice for developers because of its powerful indexing attributes, ready-made replication support, and accuracy.

So, if you are looking for a reliable open-source database with a server-client model, you shouldn’t skip MySQL. 

Oracle

Endorsed by Oracle Corporation, Oracle Database is another authoritative relational DBMS on our list.

This versatile database is a productive choice for backlog, arrangement, and querying complex and gigantic datasets. Oracle is mainly an ideal offering for enterprise-grade applications.

Yes, it could be an excellent choice for data warehousing, CRM, OLTP, telecommunication, ERP, and health care systems.

Using Oracle, you can administer multiple DB instances over a single server. Corresponding, flashback technology, performance, and portability give this RDBMS an edge over rivals. 

However, unlike the other mentioned DBs, Oracle is not a completely free solution.

Although its free tier version is called Oracle Database Express Edition (XE), but it has metered storage, RAM, and computing instances. 

Web Servers

Let’s delve into the core web servers:

Apache

Apache HTTP Server or Apache is a multi-platform, open-source, and cost-free web server. It lets programmers deploy their sites and web applications over the internet.

In this regard, it builds a relationship between a browser and a server and is responsible for shipping files using this client-server model. 

According to W3Techs, this HTTP-based virtual software is the second most used web server, and 29.0% of online websites utilize it.

Auto-indexing, URL rewriting, loadable dynamic modules, and compatibility with IPv6 are core attributes that make Apache famous among users.

Nginx

Nginx is the most used open-source web server, used by 33.9% of online websites. This server is considered a reliable choice for caching, media streaming, web severing, reverse proxying, and loading balancing. 

With cross-platform OS capability, this software offers great performance and supports numerous protocols such as gRPC, HLS, HDS, and Web Socket.

Similarly, Nginx efficiently utilizes networking resources and emphasizes accelerating webpage speed. 

Microsoft IIS

If you are looking for a web server specifically for Windows, don’t skip Microsoft IIS.

This general-purpose web server is typically used to run and deploy websites and applications utilizing PHP and ASP.NET technologies.

In this regard, it utilizes distinct protocols like HTTP, FTP, and SMTP to interact with remote clients. 

Similarly, IIS server logs are crucial for obtaining important data about usage designs and performance related to sites and servers.

Powerful security, request filtering, scalability, and native support for .NET libraries are further advantages of using IIS Server.

Programming Languages

Are you finding credible server-side scripting technologies? Let’s have a look at the following options:

JavaScript

JavaScript is an eminent language that is consecutively achieving the first rank among the most popular programming technologies, as per Stack Overflow’s survey.

Firstly, when you use JS for backend and frontend tasks, it becomes seamless to share the script between the client and server. This streamlines DevOps and reduces development time. 

Similarly, JavaScript’s asynchronous nature empowers coders to manage multiple server-side tasks at once.

The availability of a large number of libraries, dynamic typing, OOP, and supporting resources are also pros of using JS.

JavaScript could be a great choice if you employ a Node.js runtime environment. In addition, you can also use JS along with Go, Ruby, CSS, HTML, and Java. 

Python

Python is another highly recommended backend language that supports functional, object-oriented, and procedural programming models.

Its numerous libraries allow developers to utilize predesigned scripts, so they don’t have to write the code from scratch. 

By the same token, it’s simple syntax and easy learning curve make it an ideal option for beginners. However, it can create startup to enterprise-grade projects.

Thus, it could be a valid option for building websites, data visualization, automation, AI, and machine learning apps.

Graphical user interfaces, easy debugging, and an extensive standard library are further features of Python.

PHP

Hypertext Preprocessor, or PHP, is a multi-paradigm server-side scripting technology. Although it is an old programming language, 75.9% of websites on the internet still rely on PHP.

Indeed, PHP is the perfect backend language to handle web apps because of its cross-platform nature and seamless connection with JS, CSS, and HTML.

Dev teams and businesses also prefer PHP because it can be integrated with various databases.

Yes, you can use DBMSs like Redis, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite alongside PHP. Moreover, the use of PHP is optimal for session and memory management.

Java

Java is a platform-independent, high-level backend language. It is typically employed for building AI, big data, IoT, gaming, and cloud computing ventures.

For the last two decades, developers have preferred Java for creating and running enterprise-level applications. 

Java’s multithreaded nature also enables the execution of diversified program sections at once. This functionality offers responsiveness and efficient resource sharing for backend programming. 

C#

Endorsed by Microsoft, C# is a multi-paradigm, object-oriented programming language. Although it is a cross-platform scripting technology, it gives excellent results alongside Visual Studio and the .NET Framework. 

Correspondingly, if we talk about its uses, C# is a reliable option for building enterprise software, cloud-based services, and gaming apps.

Robust execution, interoperability, quick code compilation, and a rich library are also advantages of using C#.

Frameworks

You must consider the following frameworks to support your projects:

Node.js

Node.js is a multi-platform, open-source server runtime environment based on Chrome V8 Engine. This runtime environment allows JS code to be carried out on the server side and doesn’t require APIs to retrieve data. 

That is why Node.js is considered a suitable framework for crafting streaming, real-time chatting, digital transactions, and ride-sharing applications.

In addition, you can adopt this framework to build highly extensible web servers.

Node.js is also popular because of its active community support, single-threaded architecture, and event-driven and asynchronous nature.  

Please read the article How to deploy a Node.js app to learn more about this topic.

Django

Django is an open-source, Python-centric framework that follows the MTV (model-template-view) design pattern. It allows dev teams to easily build and manage database-responsive sites. 

That is why Django is considered a valuable framework for creating CMS, social, financial, and cloud storage platforms.

Other features that make Django prominent among backend tools are a user-friendly admin interface, DRY principle, and ORM.

Similarly, Django has vast community support, and its scalable nature lets you expand your project anytime.

Laravel

Are you finding an open-source framework for your PHP ventures? If yes, you shouldn’t ignore Laravel.

This free framework pursues MVC (model-view-controller) pattern design and is considered a suitable choice for developing extensible web apps and PHP-oriented websites.

Correspondingly, the Artisan CLI empowers you to migrate and administer datasets on the fly. This command-line interface is also beneficial for swiftly generating boilerplate codes.

Prepackaged modular libraries, simple and short syntax, and Eloquent ORM are further appealing aspects of this PHP-based framework.

Spring Framework 

Spring Framework, also known as Spring, is another advanced and widely used Java framework. It provides everything needed to deploy and build enterprise-grade applications using Java. 

Spring streamlines the complexities that Java components face while depending on operating systems.

In this regard, it utilizes aspect-oriented programming (AOP), servlet containers, and POJO to speed up the development process. 

Dependency injection, IoC container, MVC framework, beans, and transaction management are also prominent technologies that make Spring a popular solution. 

ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is a multi-platform, open-source web framework for crafting modern applications. This high-performing solution is feasible for building IoT, web, mobile backends, and cloud applications on the fly.

This .NET framework is compatible with Docker, Windows, macOS, and Linux and follows the MVC (model-view-controller) architecture pattern.

Moreover, it simplifies the development process by providing several pre-built tools and editors, such as .NET CLI, ReSharper, Libmam, and LINQPad.

Easy testing and robust scaling of projects are also benefits of using ASP.NET Core.

Other Backend Tools

Backend tools are not limited to languages, frameworks, servers, and databases, but there are several other platforms that play crucial roles in server-side programming. Let’s discuss a few of them:

Docker

Docker is a commonly used open-source tool that aids programmers in crafting, deploying, sharing, and running applications.

Developers create apps using Docker images and generate numerous containers with the help of Docker Compose.

Containers are also essential components of Docker that include runtime, libraries, code, and further tools that are necessary for dev ventures.

In addition, with zero configuration and infrastructure management, Docker has deployed 7 million applications and deals with 20 billion image pulls monthly. 

Ultrafast deployments, pre-installed version control systems, and quick scaling are also advantages of using Docker.

On the contrary, if we talk about its usage, Docker is useful for conducting data processing, building microservices, and streamlining the CI/CD. 

Please read the article How to deploy a Docker container to lear more about this subject.

GitHub

GitHub is a Git repository hosting platform that lets programmers build, backlog, distribute, and administer code.

Typically utilized for open-source projects, GitHub provides a graphical interface to smoothly host codes written using different scripting technologies.

In this regard, developers just have to register on GitHub, and after opening an account for free, they can simply install the files and share the scripts. By the way, you can also host projects privately on GitHub. 

Some other similar GitHub solutions are SourceForge, GitLab, Bitbuckets, and AWS Code Commit.

Stack Overflow

Whether you are a novice developer or a seasoned software engineer, you must be aware of Stack Overflow.

It is a renowned Q&A platform on which members have posted 58 million questions and answers since its beginning. 

Yes, it is easy to join this platform for free, and you can post any of your programming queries.

The active community of Stack Overflow will spontaneously answer any of the queries related to server-side development. Stats say a new question is posted on Stack Overflow after every 15 seconds. 

You can also get ‘Stack Overflow for Teams’ to get dedicated support for your projects. However, Stack Overflow not only provides solutions to your problems but also conducts surveys yearly. These surveys present the popularity and usefulness of different technologies. 

Jira

Endorsed by Atlassian, Jira is another exciting backend tool on our list.

This project administration software permits the dev teams to seamlessly monitor issues, projects, boards, and workflows.

Jira is open-source software that also automates, arranges, and plans the dev tasks.

So teammates can easily see the overall progress of the project through graphical representation.

Moreover, Jira’s user-friendly interface enables you to customize the team roles and integrate this software with third-party platforms. 

Sublime Text

Scripted in Python and C++, Sublime Text is a widely used source code editor. This cross-platform text editor can be used on different operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.

By the same token, it supports a large number of programming languages, including Python, Java, JS, PHP, etc.

Macros, solutions to linker errors, and easy integration with Git platforms are further advantages of using Sublime Text. 

OpenAPI

OpenAPI is the last but another developer-friendly programming tool on our list. This is a layout or pattern utilized for interpreting HTTP APIs.

Businesses and dev teams can learn how APIs work and how they are arranged and examined using this description standard. 

Furthermore, OpenAPI is used to develop server stubs, client libraries, and interactive documentation for your APIs. 

Conclusion

Server-side development is more significant in programming because of the complexity of behind-the-scenes functions.

However, with the help of reliable backend tools, you can simplify the server-side tasks. Therefore, this article displays one of the best backend development tools. 

Likewise, if you need BaaS offerings, you should consider Back4app, Firebase, and Backendless. For frameworks and languages, you can also choose Java, Python, JS, Django, Laravel, Spring, and Node.js. 

Correspondingly, this guide showcases the leading databases, web servers, and other tools to help companies and developers.