I’ve been comparing Backbone.js and Ember.js frameworks for my project. I understand that Ember.js offers more features out of the box while Backbone.js is lighter and more flexible.
I’m trying to decide which one would be better for connecting to a Rails REST API. With Backbone.js, I’ve seen various methods for making REST calls, but the approaches seem inconsistent. For Ember.js, it looks like I need additional libraries like ember-data or ember-resources to handle API communication properly.
I’m confused about why Ember has multiple libraries for REST integration. Which framework would be simpler to set up with a REST backend? I haven’t found many clear examples showing how to connect either framework to a backend API.
Can someone show me how to make a basic REST call using either framework? I need to fetch data from an endpoint that requires authentication and returns JSON format.
Having worked extensively with Rails backends, I can share that Backbone.js typically requires less initial setup overhead for REST integration. The framework’s Collection and Model classes provide straightforward sync methods that map directly to HTTP verbs, making authentication headers relatively simple to implement through Backbone.sync overrides. Ember’s multiple REST libraries exist because the framework evolved significantly over time. Ember Data became the official solution, though it can feel heavyweight for straightforward API consumption. The learning curve tends to be steeper, but the payoff comes with complex data relationships and caching. For your Rails integration, consider your application’s complexity. If you need simple CRUD operations with minimal data interdependencies, Backbone’s lightweight approach often proves more pragmatic. However, if your application will grow to handle complex model relationships and real-time updates, Ember’s conventions and tooling become valuable assets despite the initial complexity.
honestly backbone is way easier for simple rest stuff. just override the url method on your model and add auth headers in the sync function. ember-data is overkill unless you’re building something massive with tons of relationships. i’ve used both and backbone gets you up and running faster with less boilerplate code.
what kind of authentication are you dealing with? token based or session? that might influence your choice tbh. also curious about your team’s js experience level - ember has steeper learning curve but more conventions once you get it