node.js - Data Flow for Azure Backend on Native Android Apps

Question

We are looking at using Azure for the backend for our native Android application. The application will have user accounts along with product information and order history information. The idea is to manage the user, product, and order information in the Azure backend.

Could you help confirm if my understanding is correct on the following:

1. There are three components involved: native Android app on client side, Node.js app on the server side, and Azure Storage.

2. The Node.js app on the server side is where for example get/set user/product/order API calls are implemented

3. Backend implementation is offered via Node.js or .NET via SDK, but for other implementations can also be done via REST calls to Azure storage

4. The data flow involved is: Android app communicates to Node.js app via REST API, while Node.js app communicates to Azure Storage via SDK (or REST API).

If you could help confirm these, it would be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

Mobile Apps is the mobile-backend-as-a-service which have the API consisted of standard HTTP verbs (GET, POST, etc). Every HTTP verb has the script associated with that that can be written using C#/Node.js on the backend side. That code is being executed every time that HTTP verb is "executed" by the client. Client can have whatever he wants in terms of language/platform.

There are three components involved: native Android app on client side, Node.js >app on the server side, and Azure Storage.

It depends on what you are using. If Mobile Apps, then there is SQL Azure. If not - then you can use Storage, SQL or whatever you need.

The Node.js app on the server side is where for example get/set >user/product/order API calls are implemented

Node.js in Mobile Apps are implemented as the scripts that are executed when there is some HTTP method invoked by the client. For example, you are able to implement the PUSH notification if client invokes POST HTTP method and insert some entity into the storage backend using Mobile Apps.

Backend implementation is offered via Node.js or .NET via SDK, but for other >implementations can also be done via REST calls to Azure storage

Yes. But again, if you mean Mobile Apps (i think you do), then it is SQL Azure, and here you can use SQL Server Management Studio, Visual Studio or something else to manage the SQL Azure DB. Or use REST API.

The data flow involved is: Android app communicates to Node.js app via REST API, >while Node.js app communicates to Azure Storage via SDK (or REST API).

Node.js backend communicates with the storage backend using modules that you can add (for example, SendGrid to send SMS or store the blobs in the Storage) and some underlying technologies and adapters.