GraphQLConf 2023 wasn't just another tech conference; it was a groundbreaking event hosted by the GraphQL Foundation. Bursting with riveting workshops, enlightening talks, and interactive sponsor booths, this conference was a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of GraphQL.

Persisted queries are often hailed as a solution to several challenges in GraphQL related to network performance, caching, and maintenance. However, they may not always be the silver bullet they appear to be. This post delves into the concept of persisted queries (PQ) and automatic persisted queries (APQ), highlighting the limitations and potential scaling issues that accompany these technologies.

In our previous blog post, we discussed the challenges of API Orchestration and its often overlooked role in a microservices architecture. We explored how, while it serves as an abstraction for frontend apps and websites, this abstraction's performance is very sensitive to network latency and device performance thus directly impacting end-user experience. One proposed solution was to create a Backend for Frontend (BFF) layer, essentially moving the frontend abstraction to powerful servers within your VPC. Although this approach effectively addresses the user experience problem and simplifies the work of front-end engineers, it introduces a new set of challenges for the backend, leading to difficulties in scaling the monolithic solution. Here's what the BFF architecture looked like: