I was having a conversation with my buddy Dave tonight and we were discussing the how it is all about the Backend when building companies. So I thought I would use this opportunity to dymistify the backend and what its all about.
Front End and Back End Distinctions
The backend is not the front end for starters. I will use a Casino as a good way to explain the front end of a website and the backend of the website. The front end of the Casino usually has plenty of space for parking and accomodates many people (HOSTING - SERVER). Upon entering the front entrance of the website you have many options to engage in the Casino experience - for example, you can visit the front desk to get directions (FAQs) or a map of the Casino (SITEMAP). You can read the signs that are typically setup to guide you through to popular areas of the Casino (NAVIGATION). Depending on how well the Casino floor plan has been architected allows for ease of finding what types of games and activities a visitor might be seeking (LAYOUT DESIGN). Once a visitor finds a game or activity then they are ready to engage (CALL TO ACTION) the Backend systems - typically through a Middleware solution (DEALER AND PIT BOSS, SLOT MACHINE, VIDEO GAME CONSOLE, SHOPPING CART - You get the Idea). The job of the Front End systems are typically to get a user to engage in the Backend systems. So you sit down at a slot machine and you are ready to pull that winning combination (INTERFACE). You put your quarter into the slot machine which sets off a sequence of process’s and functions which are all handled unseen to you on the back end.
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