Building a Serverless GraphQL API For Any Datasource With StepZen

Stepsen is a tool that allows users to create a GraphQL API on top of existing data sources such as MySQL, Postgres, REST APIs, or other GraphQL APIs. It simplifies the process by enabling the serverless deployment of APIs, where the GraphQL schema is defined and Stepsen handles the creation of resolvers and server management automatically.

Yes, Docker is required if you want to work with MySQL or Postgres databases during the workshop, as it is used to run these databases locally on your machine. If you are not using these databases, you can use a provided REST API instead.

Ngrok is a tool that creates a secure tunnel to your local machine. It is necessary for the workshop to expose your locally running database (set up through Docker) to the internet, allowing Stepsen to access it for creating a serverless GraphQL API.

Yes, you can participate in the workshop without previous experience in GraphQL. The workshop is designed to accommodate beginners, and the presenter is prepared to adjust the explanations based on participants' familiarity with GraphQL.

If you prefer to use your own REST API during the workshop, you should ensure it is publicly accessible. During the workshop, you will be guided on how to connect your REST API with Stepsen to create a serverless GraphQL API.

Stepsen integrates data from various sources like SQL databases, REST, and existing GraphQL APIs by using custom directives in the schema definition. These directives specify the source of data for each field, allowing Stepsen to fetch and integrate data efficiently into a unified GraphQL schema.

The workshop discusses that while building an initial GraphQL API is straightforward, scaling it can be challenging without deep knowledge of GraphQL and the underlying systems. It emphasizes understanding how data is related and managed in the API to effectively scale and maintain performance.

You can continue experimenting with GraphQL and Stepsen by accessing the GraphQL Studio on the Stepsen website, which allows for easy exploration and creation of APIs with different combinations of data sources. Additionally, engaging with the Stepsen community through their Discord channel is encouraged for further learning and support.