Now that you are on this page, you must have heard the name JamStack and you have some familiarity with programming topics, so let’s quickly go to the main topic: What is JamStack?
In this article, we will introduce you to the concept of Jam Stack and its application. Join us to study one of the latest programming topics and principles.
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What do the terms related to jam stack mean?
Now that we want to know more about Jamstack, it is better to familiarize ourselves with the terms that we are related to in this article and this topic in general. In the following, some concepts are defined that you should be familiar with in order to understand Jamstack accurately.
Programming Languages
Programming languages are one of the most important topics in the Jamstack discussion. Note that programming language is different from markup language. In fact, a language that can be used to implement a logic is called a programming language. For example, with these languages, you can order the service to display the answer of 2 + 3 that the user requests, i.e. 5. Examples of programming languages are JavaScript, PHP, Python, etc.
API
This term stands for Application Programming Interface. In fact, the API is the bridge between the user’s request and the database or information storage location.
Markup languages
The literal meaning of this phrase is markup language. Markup languages include HTML and CSS, two programming languages that create the structure and framework of websites. The difference between this language and the programming language is in accepting logic. In the markup language, logic cannot be made for the user, but only the expression 2 + 3 can be displayed to the user on a web page.
CDN
CDN can be considered a way station for sending and receiving responses to service requests. In fact, each request has a specific location that must travel a distance to reach the main server. Here, the CDN comes to the aid of the service, and due to the fact that it is less far from the user, it increases the response speed on the website or application with the help of the copy stored on it. This word stands for Content Delivery Network.
Server
Servers are the big and powerful computers that process the information stored in the database.
Database
Databases are the place to store information that every website or application has. In fact, this is the place where the server processes its information and the API returns the appropriate response to the user with the request it sends.
Content Management System
CMS is a platform for website content management. This type of platform was used a lot in the past, for example, by using WordPress CMS, every person could have a website with little cost. With the expansion of technology and its progress, almost no product could process a large amount of information with these platforms. That’s why businesses have turned to dedicated CMSs written in low-level, more powerful programming languages.
What is Jam Stack?
Now that we are familiar with the concepts related to Jam Stack, it is better to go to the main topic. Jamstack is a newly coined term that stands for JavaScript, API, and Markup.
Jamstack is not a programming language or a framework for this, but a different way of building applications and web applications.
In fact, the idea of the Jam Stack method is to take the pressure of the requests from the server and answer the user’s requests with the information that is cached on the CDN. By doing this, the number of requests on the server side and the response time to the user will be reduced.
What is the difference between Jamstack method and old programming methods?
Jamstack is very different from the old methods of website architecture:
- The first one is in the place of building the website code and hosting the user request. In the old ways, actually hosting and building the website was done in one place, that is, on the main server. The user sent a request to the server and after a long process, the response from the server returned to the user’s browser. In Jamstack, code creation is done on the same server, but hosting, that is, the place to respond to requests, is done through the same CDN or intermediate stations that have the files in a classified manner.
- In the Jamstack method, after the request is transferred to the CDN, the response returns to the browser in a translated form, but in traditional methods, the request returns to the browser after circulating between the server database and the backend codes.
- In old ways, traditional CMS is used. With this tool, everyone is ready to manage and change the backend and frontend of the website. But in the Jamstack method, Headless CMS is used. Headless CMSs are actually connected to the backend with an API, and their conditions for changing the content etc. become a little difficult.
What are the benefits of Jam Stack?
Very high loading speed: considering that in the Jam Stack method, the focus is on one or more html files stored in the CDN, not all database information, the speed of responding to the user is very high. In addition, with Jamstack, JavaScript codes are executed in a trotmic way and the structure is set in an orderly manner.
More security: By separating the front and back-end of the site from each other, the access that was possible through the front-end to the back-end no longer poses a risk to the database and the entire site. In fact, these are connected to each other with API and it minimizes your dependence on the database.
Easy and cheap scalability: With this method and the right choice of programming language, you can easily expand your website, because you don’t need additional storage resources and servers, and you process the heavy load of the website with a strong CDN.
What are the disadvantages of jam stack?
Contradiction with traditional CMS: By using this method, you actually encounter problems in loading, managing and publishing website contents. Jamstack architecture does not have a good relationship with old CMS and content management platforms of this method usually require technical knowledge. This means that the author or content manager must also receive new training, which actually makes content production and management difficult.
Dependence on coding to update the template: In other structures, especially old WordPress, there are simple and cheap methods without coding to update the template, which are no longer possible using Gemstack. In fact, with this method, you must have a permanent programmer and permanent coding to update the template.
What websites is Jamstack suitable for?
Although Jamstack is considered an advanced method for developing websites and web applications, it is not suitable for many websites such as online magazines or websites that require very high content. In fact, it can be said that a website that needs constant content updates will have problems with Jam Stack.
However, websites with a high volume of users that require little content or are facing limitations in terms of database and server; they can compensate their limitation by using this method.
Jamstack is a new and advanced world that is still being updated. The method that this plan has put in front of businesses is not suitable for small scales and, of course, it has more costs than the old methods. So, if you intend to use the Jamstack method to develop your website, while doing more research, be sure to pay attention to the required manpower and technical access.