Efficient communication between two GraphQL backend services

Backend
1

Hey everyone, I’m working on a project with two GraphQL backend services (A and B) and a frontend portal. I’m trying to figure out the best way for service A to get data from service B when the frontend sends a request to A.

Right now, I’m doing something like this:

const query = gql`
  query getClientInfo {
    clientId
    clientName
  }
`;
const clientData = await graphqlClient.query({query});

But I’m worried this isn’t the most efficient way. It feels like service B is doing a lot of unnecessary work (schema checks, middleware stuff) when A calls it. This could slow things down and waste resources.

I’ve looked at Apollo Federation, but it seems more focused on frontend benefits. This is more of an internal service call situation.

Does anyone have ideas on how to handle this better? I’m open to any suggestions that could make this communication more efficient. Thanks for your help!

2

Have you explored using a dedicated API gateway for inter-service communication? This approach could streamline the process by handling authentication, rate limiting, and request routing centrally. It might also allow you to optimize the data exchange between A and B, potentially reducing the payload to only essential fields.

Another option worth considering is implementing a message queue system. This could decouple your services, allowing for asynchronous communication when real-time responses aren’t critical. It could significantly improve scalability and resilience in your architecture.

Regardless of the method you choose, it’s crucial to monitor performance metrics closely. This will help you identify bottlenecks and validate any improvements you implement in your inter-service communication strategy.

3

hmm, interesting problem! have u considered caching frequently requested data from B in A? could reduce calls between services. also, maybe optimizing B’s schema for A’s specific needs? curious tho - how often does this data change? might affect the best approach. what do u think?

4

have u thought about using grpc instead? it’s way faster for service-to-service comms. you could keep graphql for frontend stuff, but switch to grpc between A and B. might need some setup, but could really speed things up. just an idea!