What this service covers
Backend-only engagements are common: the frontend already exists, a third-party team is building the UI, or the client is building a mobile app that needs an API behind it. We build the backend independently, deliver it with full OpenAPI documentation, and structure the integration surface so any frontend team can work against it without needing to ask questions about undocumented behaviour.
The technical scope covers the full server-side stack: data model design, API endpoint design, authentication (JWT, OAuth 2.0, API keys), input validation, error handling, rate limiting, request logging, database query optimisation, and Redis caching. Every decision is documented so the team inheriting the codebase knows why things are built the way they are.
Go is our first choice for services where throughput and low latency matter. Node.js for projects where shipping speed is the priority and the team is already JavaScript-native. Django when the data model is complex, the query patterns are heavily relational, or the client team is Python-native and needs to maintain it afterward.
Deliverables and outcomes
OpenAPI / Swagger documentation
Every endpoint documented with request parameters, response schemas, error codes, and example payloads. Importable into Postman, Insomnia, or any API client.
Authenticated endpoints
JWT-based authentication with access and refresh token rotation, or API key authentication for machine-to-machine use cases. OAuth 2.0 integration for third-party login providers.
Database schema and migrations
Entity-relationship design, properly indexed tables, and migration files that can be applied to any environment cleanly.
Redis caching
Response caching for expensive queries, rate limiting enforcement, and session storage. Cache invalidation logic tied to data mutation events.
Input validation and error handling
All inputs validated at the API boundary with structured error responses. Error codes and messages are consistent across all endpoints.
Rate limiting and security headers
Per-endpoint and per-user rate limiting. Security headers (CORS, CSP, HSTS) configured for the deployment environment.
Dockerised deployment
The API is containerised with Docker, with a Compose file for local development and production-equivalent environment parity.
Load testing and performance baseline
Before handover, we run basic load tests to establish a performance baseline and identify any bottlenecks under expected traffic patterns.
Our process
Backend API projects start with the contract: the data model and endpoint structure are defined and agreed before implementation begins. This gives any frontend team a stable integration target from the start and prevents scope drift mid-project.