Why You Should Think Twice Before Building Your Backend on Firebase or Other Platforms
When starting a new web app, developers often choose between two major paths: building a backend from scratch using stacks like MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), or relying on ready-made platforms like Firebase, Supabase, or Parse. While both approaches have their use cases, the long-term impact of your choice can define the success — or failure — of your entire project.
Quick setups vs future flexibility
Firebase and similar platforms offer rapid setup, easy integration, and scalable infrastructure. These tools are excellent for MVPs (minimum viable products), quick demo apps, and low-complexity systems. But here’s the problem: you don’t own the backend logic or architecture.
As your app grows and new features become necessary — complex business logic, custom workflows, or intricate data relationships — you may find yourself locked into the limitations of your chosen platform. Features like advanced access control, custom server-side automation, or integrations with non-supported APIs may become difficult or impossible without rewriting your entire backend.
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The hidden danger: platform dependency
There’s another silent risk: platform dependency. If Firebase changes its pricing, limits, or discontinues features (as Google has done before), your project may break or become unaffordable. If you’ve built your backend from scratch, you control everything: the database, the APIs, the security rules, and the server logic.
In contrast, when you rely fully on platforms like Firebase, your backend is only as stable as their uptime, policies, and future decisions.
When to go custom
If your website or app is simple, short-term, or experimental, using Firebase or similar is fine. But if your project is intended to scale, integrate deeply with other tools, or support dynamic changes, building a backend from scratch — like with the MERN stack — may be a better long-term investment.
Before starting development, always ask:
-Is this a simple blog or store?
-Will I need custom user roles,
analytics, or integrations later?
-What happens if the third-party platform changes or fails?
Choosing the right backend isn’t just about today — it’s about making sure your app survives tomorrow.
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