The Raw Capability Truth ⚡

# Anything GraphQL can do, REST CAN do
# Anything REST can do, GraphQL CAN do

# They're both HTTP + JSON at the end of the day

The difference is NOT capability. It’s EFFICIENCY.

Efficiency of WHAT Though? 🎯

1. Development Efficiency 💻

// GraphQL: Frontend gets new field immediately
query { users { id, name, newField } }

// REST: Frontend waits for backend to update endpoint
// Backend: "I'll add it to the sprint next week"
// Frontend: 😩

2. Network Efficiency 📱

# GraphQL: One precise request
curl -X POST /graphql -d '{"query": "{ users { name } }"}'

# REST: Multiple round trips or over-fetching
curl /users          # Gets 50 fields
curl /users/1/orders # Another call
curl /users/1/profile # Another call

3. Cognitive Efficiency 🧠

# GraphQL: Self-documenting
type User {
  id: ID!
  name: String!
  email: String!
  orders: [Order!]!
}
# IDE knows exactly what's available

# REST: "Check the docs... hope they're updated"
# "What fields does /users return again?"

The “But You Could…” Counter-Arguments 🗣️

“But REST could have field selection!”

GET /users?fields=name,email

# Yes, but now you're:
# - Building custom parsing logic
# - Maintaining documentation
# - Handling edge cases
# - Reinventing GraphQL poorly

“But REST could have a schema with OpenAPI!”

# swagger.yaml - now you're maintaining YAML
# Generating client code
# Ensuring sync with actual API
# GraphQL gives you this FOR FREE

“But REST could batch requests!”

POST /batch
{
  "requests": [
    {"method": "GET", "path": "/users"},
    {"method": "GET", "path": "/orders"} 
  ]
}

# Congratulations, you've built a worse GraphQL

The Business Reality 💼

# GraphQL cost: Learning curve, more complex backend
# GraphQL benefit: Faster feature development, happier frontend team

# REST cost: More coordination, slower iteration  
# REST benefit: Simpler to understand, established patterns

#Dab’s Final Wisdom 🌿💎

“GraphQL isn’t more CAPABLE than REST. It’s more EFFICIENT for certain use cases.”

“It’s the difference between a Swiss Army knife and a professional chef’s knife. Both can cut, but one is optimized for professional kitchen work.”

“Choose REST when developer coordination is cheap. Choose GraphQL when developer time is expensive and you need to move fast.”

“The real question isn’t ‘which is more powerful?’ It’s ‘which lets my team ship quality features faster?’”

So yes—you’re absolutely right. It’s all about efficiency, not raw capability. That’s why the choice depends entirely on your team, your product, and your constraints.

That’s the real engineering decision. 🏗️

Pass the knowledge, not the stress. - #Dab 🌿💻

…back

>dr.kb< multiverse

grab a bowl ... 🌿🍯🔥💨