What is the frontend cloud?
Imagine you're trying to build a house (in this case, a website or web application).
The frontend is everything you see and interact with when you enter the house, such as the walls, furniture, and appliances. Now, to make sure your house is always accessible, you need a reliable plot of land to build it on. This is where the concept of 'frontend cloud' comes in.
Frontend cloud is like a magical plot of land on the internet that can adjust its size based on the number of people visiting your house. It makes sure that your house (website) is always available and looks great, no matter how many people are visiting or what devices they're using.
This magical plot of land also provides extra security, making it harder for intruders to break into your house. And the best part? You only have to pay for the space you use, making it a cost-effective solution compared to traditional web hosting methods.
In simple terms, frontend cloud is a service that ensures your website is fast, secure, and always available, while also being flexible and cost-effective.
Why is the frontend cloud so difficult to understand?
Frontend cloud, despite its numerous benefits, can be a challenging concept to grasp for many people. Here are some reasons why.
- Technical jargon: Let's face it – the world of frontend cloud solutions can be overwhelming with its inscrutable buzzwords and technical jargon. "Global content delivery"? "Automatic code optimization"? "Serverless architecture"? 🤢😴😵
- Abstract nature: Frontend cloud is an invisible infrastructure that exists on the internet, making it harder to visualize and understand compared to physical servers or traditional web hosting solutions.
- Rapidly evolving landscape: The field of cloud computing is constantly changing. Keeping up with new technologies and services can be challenging, even for experienced professionals.
- Lack of resources and education: Whatever resources are available, the technical nature of these resources can make it difficult for non-technical individuals to fully grasp the concepts (see #1).
- Misconceptions and confusion: Misconceptions about frontend cloud, such as the belief that it's only suitable for large enterprises or that it's too expensive for smaller businesses, create confusion and hinder a clear understanding of the technology's benefits and applications.
Why do we believe in the frontend cloud?
The status quo won’t cut it
Traditionally, web development was focused on building the backend first, which involved creating the underlying structure and functionality of a website or application. This approach often meant that the frontend, or the visual and interactive part of the website that users see and engage with, was treated as an afterthought.
A DIY backend is not a viable solution
Building your own infrastructure is a costly and uncertain gamble. It's challenging to accurately predict future needs, leading to overbuilding with wasted resources or underbuilding with limited capabilities. The rapidly evolving technological landscape can quickly render self-built systems outdated and inflexible, hindering your ability to adapt and grow.
Without a frontend platform like Vercel, your developers must manually tackle complex tasks like server setup, content delivery network configuration, and website optimization for various devices. These responsibilities demand substantial time, effort, and expertise, diverting focus from creating innovative features and enhancing user experience.
By adopting a frontend cloud solution, your developers can delegate these tasks and focus on crafting a high-quality digital product that truly showcases your brand and engages your customers.
Flipping the script. Frontend first.
At Rangle, we believe in emphasizing the frontend and leaving the complexities of the backend to experts like Vercel.
Focusing on user experience is crucial in today's fast-paced digital world, where first impressions matter more than ever. Putting the frontend first allows you to truly differentiate your company in the market and drive success.
Think about your own experience recently. You and everyone else have come to expect seamless and instant online experiences, so there is nothing more frustrating than encountering a slow-loading website that stops you in your tracks. If you have no compelling reason to wait it out, you’ll bounce without a second’s hesitation and find someone who knows how to deliver a better experience.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Amazon’s 100ms latency cost: every 100 milliseconds of latency in Amazon’s load speed cost them 1% in sales.
- Deloitte found that even a small improvement in mobile speeds could impact business results. With a 0.1s improvement in site speed, retail consumers spent almost 10% more, while lead generation and luxury consumers engaged more, with page views increasing by 7% and 8% respectively.
Vercel and the benefits of the frontend cloud
We partner with Vercel because it enables us to put the frontend first. Here are some key benefits of using a frontend platform:
- Deploying and hosting: Vercel makes deploying and hosting your frontend applications about as simple as microwaving a burrito. Just a few clicks, and your website is live for the world to see. No need to wrestle with complex server configurations or sacrifice a goat to the tech gods.
- Faster loading times: Imagine waiting in line at a store versus using a self-checkout machine. Frontend cloud is like having multiple self-checkout machines available for your website visitors, allowing them to access and browse your content quickly and efficiently, ensuring that even the most impatient users stay engaged and happy.
- Content Delivery Network: Vercel's globally distributed network of servers is like having a team of superheroes ready to deliver your content to users around the world in the blink of an eye. No matter where your audience is, they'll enjoy a lightning-fast browsing experience.
- Better user experience across devices: Have you ever visited a website on your phone, only to find that it looks terrible and is hard to navigate? Frontend cloud helps ensure that your website looks great and functions smoothly on any device, from smartphones and tablets to laptops and desktop computers.
- Improved reliability: Picture a traditional light bulb versus a modern LED light. While a traditional light bulb can burn out and leave you in the dark, an LED light is designed to last much longer and provide consistent illumination. Frontend cloud works similarly, offering improved reliability and ensuring that your website remains accessible, even during periods of high traffic.
- Enhanced security: Think of frontend cloud as a security guard for your website. It provides an extra layer of protection against potential threats, such as hackers and malware.
- Cost-effective scaling: Traditional web hosting is like renting a physical storefront – you pay a fixed amount regardless of how many customers visit. Frontend cloud, on the other hand, is like having a pop-up shop (or to mix metaphors, a magical stretching waistband) that can expand or shrink based on demand. This means you only pay for the resources you actually use.
- Easy updates and maintenance: With frontend cloud, updating and maintaining your website becomes much simpler. It's like having a team of experts taking care of the behind-the-scenes work, so you can focus on creating great content and growing your business.
- Developer Experience: And let's not forget about the developers – the unsung heroes behind every great digital project. Vercel offers a treasure trove of tools and features designed to make their lives easier, from automatic code optimization to collaboration capabilities that would make even the most dysfunctional team feel like a well-oiled machine.
What’s it all about?
Although frontend cloud may seem complex, understanding its benefits and partnering with experts can help you make the most of this technology. By embracing frontend platforms like Vercel, you can concentrate on the critical frontend aspects that truly resonate with your audience.
So to recap without all the jargon: your website is a digital house and the frontend cloud is the magical, adaptable plot of land that ensures your house is accessible worldwide, looks fantastic, and functions seamlessly on any device, while scaling based on traffic demands. Alternatively, you could hire skilled developers to manually construct the infrastructure, which requires time, expertise, and resources but the infrastructure isn't what captivates you or your audience—much better to allocate your resources to creative aspects like designing and enhancing your house, delivering the best possible experience that keeps people returning for more.