GraphQL vs tRPC

The over-engineered query language that makes REST look like a toddler's scribble meets typescript's love letter to api developers. Here's our take.

GraphQL

Nice Pick

The over-engineered query language that makes REST look like a toddler's scribble.

Pros

• Eliminates over-fetching and under-fetching with precise data queries
• Strongly typed schema ensures API consistency and reduces errors
• Aggregates data from multiple sources in a single request for efficiency

Cons

• Complex setup and learning curve compared to REST
• Can lead to performance issues with deeply nested queries

tRPC

TypeScript's love letter to API developers. Write types once, cry about mismatched schemas never.

Pros

• End-to-end type safety without code generation
• Seamless autocompletion and real-time error prevention
• Reduces boilerplate by sharing types between client and server

Cons

• Tightly coupled to TypeScript, limiting use in non-TypeScript projects
• Can feel like magic, making debugging more opaque when things go wrong

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. GraphQL is a devtools while tRPC is a ai coding tools. We picked GraphQL based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

GraphQL wins

Based on overall popularity. GraphQL is more widely used, but tRPC excels in its own space.