As an Android app developer, I often require simple synchronizations of text strings between users. Consequently, my primary objective is to implement a backend API for the mobile application.

In order to facilitate fast and convenient development, we require a suitable technology stack and hosting option. Language is not a concern. Additionally, it would be excellent if we could deploy at least 5 different APIs on the lowest paid tariff, to experiment with new technologies and learn more about them.

As for my personal opinion, there are numerous backend options available in the market to suit different needs. It depends on the functionality and size of the application in question. However, if you require a basic and straightforward backend, then I would recommend using Google Firebase. Firebase offers a free plan that includes a real-time database, user authentication, and cloud messaging features. It is also effortless to set up and integrate with Android apps.

Rails 5 comes with an in-built API feature. However, if the sole focus is on the API, it's worth considering alternatives that are simpler and quicker. Especially since you have mentioned there are no language constraints, there are plenty of options available:

    Sails.js
    Ruby Sinatra
    NodeJS ExpressJS
    PSP Slim
    .NET Nancy
    Python Flask
    Java Jersey
    Go Go

The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Heroku is a hosting service that costs $0-7 per month and has the option of being turned off on weekends. It only offers one instance, but it's easy to use without needing an admin and has simple but useful libraries. Additionally, it can handle small loads for up to five different applications. On the free tariff plan, you can create over a thousand apps, each working 12 hours a day, which is ample for development. Ruby on Rails is an excellent choice for API development on Heroku.


In terms of hosting services, Heroku is known for its affordability, costing between $0-7 per month. Additionally, Heroku offers the ability to turn off services on weekends, which can help save money. While only offering a single instance, Heroku is still easy to use as it doesn't require an admin and provides numerous simple yet useful libraries. It's also recommended for smaller projects too since it can handle up to five different applications without issue.

On a free tariff plan, you can develop and create multiple applications (over a thousand, in fact), with each working for at least 12 hours per day. This is more than sufficient for development purposes. If you're looking to develop an API on Heroku, then Ruby on Rails is a great choice.

Sails.js comes with an API out of the box. To add authorization, you can simply use sails-generate-auth module and proceed further.

After generating an API, you will have access to default methods through blueprints, which can be found at https://sailsjs.com/dоcumentation/concepts/blueprints/blueprint-actions .

On another note, Sails.js is a popular Node.js web application framework that follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern. It offers a lot of out-of-the-box features that make development faster and easier.

For the technology stack, a comprehensive option that offers a robust set of tools for this purpose is the MEAN stack. MongoDB, the "M" in MEAN, is a NoSQL database that is well-suited for handling text string synchronization. Its flexibility and scalability make it a great choice for managing the data associated with user interactions. Express.js and Node.js, the "E" and "N" in MEAN, respectively, provide a powerful and efficient framework for building RESTful APIs. These technologies seamlessly integrate with each other, allowing for smooth communication and data exchange between the mobile app and the backend.

In terms of frontend, Angular, the final component of the MEAN stack, can be leveraged for creating an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing the text string synchronization process and other administrative tasks related to the APIs.

When it comes to hosting, the choice of a suitable provider is crucial to ensure efficient deployment and scalability, while keeping costs in check. Cloud hosting platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are widely recognized for their extensive range of services and support for various technologies. Both AWS and Azure offer free tiers for new users, enabling the deployment and experimentation of multiple APIs on the lowest paid tariff. Additionally, these platforms provide robust support for the technologies in the MEAN stack, thus making them ideal choices for testing and experimentation.

Furthermore, the serverless computing capabilities offered by AWS Lambda and Azure Functions could be leveraged to create lightweight and cost-effective APIs for experimentation purposes. These serverless options provide the flexibility to deploy multiple APIs without incurring high costs, while also offering seamless integration with other cloud services.

Alternatively, Google Firebase stands out as a streamlined solution for backend development, offering a real-time database, user authentication, and cloud messaging features essential for your requirements. Firebase's ease of use and seamless integration with Android applications make it an excellent choice for simplified text string synchronization and user interaction. The free plan offered by Firebase allows for the deployment and experimentation of multiple APIs without significant financial overhead, providing an accessible platform for technology exploration.
The choice of technology stack and hosting options for backend API development necessitates thorough consideration of factors such as integration capabilities, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Whether opting for the comprehensive capabilities of the MEAN stack with AWS or Azure, or the user-friendly simplicity of Google Firebase, a deep understanding of the specific needs of the mobile application and the capabilities of the chosen technologies will play a pivotal role in determining the most suitable solution for your backend API development endeavors.

It's plug-and-play for basic text sync, but you're just renting Google's sandbox—zero learning curve, zero grit. If you wanna level up, snag a $5/month droplet on DigitalOcean or Hetzner and roll your own APIs with Go or Rust.
You can host 5+ microservices without breaking a sweat, using Kubernetes if you're feeling spicy. Firebase's free plan is a bait-and-switch, costs explode when you scale. Stop sipping the corporate juice and get your hands dirty with real infra - tweak Nginx, secure endpoints, and own your uptime. That's how you earn your dev stripes, not by copy-pasting SDKs.