Backend

When building a GraphQL API in Node.js, developers today are spoiled for choice. For years, the undisputed king of the hill was the combination of Express.js and Apollo Server—a battle-tested, robust, and feature-rich stack. But a new contender has emerged, built on a foundation of pure speed: Fastify and its native GraphQL engine, Mercurius.As of 2025, the question is no longer just "How do I build a GraphQL server?" but "Which philosophy and stack will best serve my project's needs?" This article breaks down the two leading combinations to help you decide.

Mercurius is not just another GraphQL library; it is the official, high-performance GraphQL adapter for Fastify. It was built from the ground up to integrate seamlessly with Fastify's core principles, resulting in a developer experience that is as elegant as it is fast.

MongoDB, a powerful, flexible, and scalable document-oriented database. But for Node.js developers, interacting with MongoDB directly can feel verbose and unstructured. This is where Mongoose enters the picture.

Fastify isn't just "another web framework." It's a fundamental reimagining of how a Node.js server should be built, focusing on two key principles: exceptional performance and a superior developer experience through a rigid, scalable architecture.

This article explores the core concepts that make Express so powerful and explains why it continues to be a cornerstone of Node.js development.

FastAPI has rapidly gained popularity and a dedicated following, and for good reason. It's designed from the ground up to be easy to use, incredibly fast, and to leverage modern Python features for a superior developer experience.