Community Event with JJ Englert and Eli Beachy - When to use Xano with Bubble

When building web and mobile applications with no-code tools like Bubble, you may encounter situations where you need more robust data management, faster performance, or additional capabilities beyond what the primary no-code platform can offer. In such cases, integrating a dedicated no-code backend like Xano can be a game-changer, allowing you to supercharge your Bubble application without writing any code.

Why Use a Separate No-Code Backend?

There are several compelling reasons to consider using a separate no-code backend alongside your Bubble application:

1. Data Integration and Distribution: A dedicated backend like Xano can integrate with APIs and services from anywhere, transform data, store it in a central location, and then distribute it to multiple front-ends (web, mobile, dashboards, etc.) in the desired format.
2. Collaborative Development: By separating the front-end and backend workflows, Xano allows teams to work more efficiently. While Bubble developers focus on the user interface and front-end logic, backend developers can concentrate on building and managing the business logic and data processing.
3. Large Data Sets and Scalability: Xano is built specifically for handling large data sets and scaling your application as it grows. It provides enterprise-grade infrastructure, flexible databases, and powerful APIs to handle complex data transformations and background tasks efficiently.
4. Compliance and Security: With Xano, you can leverage advanced security features like data encryption, regional deployment, and compliance certifications (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, etc.), making it suitable for applications handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries.

Performance Comparisons

To illustrate the potential performance benefits of using Xano alongside Bubble, let's review some test results. These tests were conducted using a dataset of 100,000 records, and the performance was measured for various operations:

Simple Data Retrieval

For retrieving 100 records or less, Bubble performed slightly better, taking around 220 milliseconds compared to Xano's 300 milliseconds. This makes Bubble an excellent choice for applications with low data sets and simple data retrieval needs.

Search and Transform

When searching and transforming 100,000 records, Xano completed the task in about 400 milliseconds, while Bubble took around 7 seconds.

Bulk Delete

Deleting 500 records in bulk took approximately 4 seconds with Xano, but required around 54 seconds with a recursive workflow in Bubble.

Record Creation

Creating 1,000 records took 300 milliseconds with Xano, 20 seconds with Bubble's Data API, and 5 minutes with recursive workflows. For larger datasets like 100,000 records, Xano accomplished the task in 4 seconds, while Bubble's Data API took around 30 minutes, and recursive workflows lasted approximately 4 hours.

It's important to note that these tests were conducted under specific conditions, and performance may vary depending on your application's requirements and setup. However, the results clearly demonstrate the potential performance gains of using a dedicated backend like Xano for data-intensive operations and background tasks.

Common Use Cases

Here are some common scenarios where integrating Xano with your Bubble application can be beneficial:

1. Fuzzy Search: Implement advanced search capabilities with features like phrase searching, negation, and finding similar words or tenses, all processed efficiently on the backend.
2. Data Transformations: Perform complex data transformations, such as image resizing, format conversions, or data enrichment from third-party sources, without impacting the front-end performance.
3. Background Tasks: Execute long-running tasks or scheduled jobs in the background, such as data imports, exports, or batch processing, without blocking the user interface.
4. Webhooks and Event Handling: Securely handle incoming webhooks and events from third-party services, process the data, and only send the necessary information to your Bubble application.
5. Sensitive Data Handling: Keep sensitive data encrypted and access-controlled within Xano, limiting exposure and enhancing security for your application.
6. Scalability and Performance Optimization: As your application grows and handles larger datasets or more complex operations, Xano's dedicated infrastructure and optimized backend can help maintain performance and scalability.

Getting Started with a Hybrid Approach

To leverage the benefits of using Xano alongside Bubble, consider adopting a hybrid approach. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Identify Pain Points: Evaluate your application's current performance, scalability, and functional needs. Determine which areas could benefit from a dedicated backend solution like Xano.
2. Start Small: Begin by migrating specific workflows, data transformations, or background tasks to Xano, while keeping the majority of your application in Bubble. This allows you to gradually integrate Xano without disrupting your existing codebase.
3. Utilize Xano's Integration Tools: Xano provides tools and documentation to simplify the integration process with Bubble. You can easily pull data from Bubble into Xano, process it, and push the results back to your Bubble application or trigger workflows.
4. Leverage Xano's Strengths: Focus on utilizing Xano's strengths, such as handling large datasets, complex data transformations, scheduled tasks, and secure data handling, while relying on Bubble for front-end development and user interface management.
5. Collaborate and Learn: Join the Xano and Bubble communities, share your experiences, and learn from others who have implemented similar hybrid approaches. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing can accelerate your learning curve and help you achieve better results.

By adopting a hybrid approach and leveraging the strengths of both Xano and Bubble, you can create powerful, scalable, and high-performing applications without sacrificing the benefits of no-code development. Embrace the flexibility of this combination and unlock new possibilities for your projects.