Vladimir Goldobin

A mobile developer passionate about leveraging modern tools and techniques.

2 minute read

Building a Mobile App Without a Traditional Backend

Not every project needs a full backend from day one. When speed and cost efficiency matter—especially for MVPs or proof-of-concepts, I use managed services to handle authentication while keeping the architecture flexible for future growth.

This approach has worked well for several clients who needed to validate their product fast without upfront infrastructure costs.

My Approach

I achieved this by leveraging Keycloak as a Service for OpenID authentication, which provided a seamless way to manage user identity and access. Here’s a detailed breakdown of my approach:

  1. Using Keycloak as a Service
    • Keycloak is an open-source identity and access management solution. By using it as a service, I was able to implement OpenID authentication without needing to set up my own authentication server. Keycloak handles user authentication, providing secure token-based access right out of the box.
  2. Mock API with OpenAPI Specification
    • Instead of developing a full-fledged backend, I wrote an OpenAPI (Swagger) specification to define the endpoints and their responses for my application’s API. This specification acts as a contract for what my app expects from the server, improving collaboration and clarity between teams.
  3. Using Stoplight Prism for Mocking
    • To simulate a server environment, I utilized Stoplight Prism, which can spin up a mock service based on the OpenAPI specification I created. Prism allows for both static mock responses and dynamic response generation. This real-time generation is powered by the Faker library, enabling me to create realistic data responses that resemble what a real server would provide.

Advantages of This Approach

  • Reduced Development Time: By using ready-to-go services like Keycloak and Prism, I saved time that would have been spent on backend setup and maintenance.

  • Focus on Frontend Development: This approach allowed me to concentrate more on building the mobile application’s frontend, enhancing user experience and interface design without getting bogged down by backend complexities.

  • Flexibility and Scalability: With a mock API in place, I can easily update the API specification and continue development even as the actual backend is being developed at a later stage or if different backend solutions are considered.

When This Approach Makes Sense

This setup is perfect for:

  • MVPs that need to validate product-market fit quickly
  • Projects with limited initial budgets that want to defer backend costs
  • Teams that want frontend and backend to evolve independently
  • Proof-of-concepts for stakeholder buy-in before full investment

I work full-time for major corporate clients, but I take on select projects where I can apply these cost-effective strategies. If you’re starting a mobile app and want to minimize initial investment while keeping your options open, this could be the right approach.

Have a mobile app idea but concerned about backend complexity? Reach out for a free consultation. I’ll assess your needs and provide a clear quote for getting your app to market fast.

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