If you’re starting a new web project, there are several development stacks you can choose from. While there are many options available, three of the most popular backend development frameworks are Meteor, MEAN, and Firebase.
These three can be used independently or together to create powerful apps, so it’s important to know their differences before making your decision.
Here, we have compared Firebase, Meteor and MEAN with reference to a few important parameters and discussed these three frameworks in detail to give you a clear picture.
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Firebase vs. Meteor vs. MEAN
To choose between the three frameworks, you need to know detailed features and specifications. Let us start with Firebase.
Explore Firebase, Meteor, and MEAN's pros and cons and make an informed choice for your development needs .
Firebase
Firebase is a mobile and web application development platform that provides data storage, authentication, backend functionality, and more. This framework is specifically helpful to build business applications to meet growing user expectations.
Developing apps with Firebase is quite simple and quick as cloud computing has simplified the way applications are built in modern times. While building apps on the cloud, your developer does not need to worry about the platform(iOS, Android and web), infrastructure, or the scalability of the apps.
Moreover, just like google drive, the data transfer and storage is easy and efficient for Firebase. Whatever client data gets stored in the application, is present in a central repository. The complete data transfer happens automatically, once data has been updated by the user.
Firebase is most suitable for building real time apps like chat apps, music sharing apps and others such as collaboration tools. It’s a simple cloud platform that helps to create apps in a few hours, just dropping the code into the framework.
Meteor
Meteor JS is an open-source web development framework written using Node JavaScript(JS). The framework follows an MVC pattern for web development. With Meteor JS, developers get resources from previous frameworks and libraries to develop a prototype application first and then move on to build a full fledged application.
Meteor helps in building real-time apps as this feature is there in its core model. You just have to build a normal web or mobile application with Meteor and it is automatically real time. The database in the template of the app is updated as soon as the update is done by the user.
Furthermore, Meteor gives you the liberty to work on just one language and that is Javascript. Therefore, with Meteor, you can create frontend, backend and database, all in Javascript that too with exclusive cross platform advantage (iOS, Android and web). Meteor helps to build apps by writing fewer codes such as, a collaborative task management application (to-do app) can be developed by writing less than 600 lines of codes.
Also, this framework makes it easy to build scalable and realtime web apps with a focus on data-intensive applications.
Whether it's Firebase, Meteor, or the MEAN Stack, we've got you covered. Let's discuss your ideal development workflow .
MEAN Stack
MEAN is a full-stack JavaScript solution for building modern web applications. The framework is an easy starting point for MongoDB, Express, AngularJS, and Node.js based applications. It is designed to give you a fast and organized way to web apps with useful modules such as Mongoose and Passport (pre-bundled & configured).
However, MEAN stack is a traditional approach to web development. While you get four frameworks to use, it’s by no means a seamless platform. You need to install the four separate frameworks to get it all working as one.
Moreover, MEAN frameworks are not easy to use. The simplicity you will find in Meteor & Firebase, is missing in MEAN and it’s quite tricky to write codes in AngularJS. Also, you can not use MEAN for cross platform as it is specifically created for web apps. You can also hire mean stack developers.
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Comparison – Development Workflow
Firebase is a great platform to use when you want to build mobile applications. It’s also great for web applications. However, if you’re building a web application that needs heavy data processing (such as doing complex mathematical calculations), then it may not be the best option.
Meteor is an all-in-one framework that’s built on top of NodeJS, MongoDB, and AngularJS. It can work with both front-end and back-end processes. If you need more control over your application, then this might be a good fit for you.
However, the development workflow with the MEAN stack follows a traditional LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL PHP) type workflow. In this approach you would first write JavaScript code in your editor or IDE to create an application on the client side such as a web browser.
Comparing Data Storage Methods
Firebase is a real-time database that stores data as JSON objects. It means you can store any type of data you want in the database as long as it’s JSON formatted. The big difference between Firebase and other databases is that it’s built for real-time apps. It means that all your data is available from anywhere instantly with no latency.
Meteor uses MongoDB as its default database. It supports both SQL and NoSQL databases with the same API enabling developers to choose the right database depending on the application’s needs.
Data storage in the MEAN stack is done with MongoDB which is a document-oriented database system. The data itself is stored in JSON-like documents with schemas.
Comparing Ease Of Deployment
Firebase, a backend-as-a-service, is quick to deploy but it’s relatively limited in the features it offers for server-side code. Deploying a new version of an app is as simple as logging in and clicking deploy, making Firebase ideal for projects that don’t require more than basic backend functionality. On the other hand, if your project requires complex server-side coding then you should use something like Meteor or MEAN. You can get in touch with a Mean Stack Development Company for this.
Wrapping It Up:
The above description on Firebase vs Meteor vs MEAN should help you to choose the best one that suits your needs. If you’re looking for a simple setup with no hassle, go with Firebase.
On the other hand, if you want to learn more about the technologies that power your app or if you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty learning how they work, then Meteor is the way to go.
To save more time in setting up all your server-side code, MEAN might be the best option for you.
If you have any other queries regarding Firebase development, Meteor development, and MEAN development, feel free to contact PixelCrayons.
Ready to elevate your app development? Compare Firebase, Meteor, and MEAN Stack with us and get started now!
