Service

APIs that scalefrom 100 to10 million requests.

Backend systems built for long-term reliability. No shortcuts in the data model. No shortcuts in the API design. No shortcuts anywhere.

Overview

Most backend failures trace back to decisions made in the first two weeks: a poorly normalised data model, an API contract that assumes a single client, a caching strategy bolted on after the first scaling crisis. We prevent those failures by getting the architecture right the first time. ZimDevs designs and builds REST and GraphQL APIs, database schemas, authentication systems, and event-driven backends that are designed to be extended, not rewritten, as your business grows.

What you get

Deliverables

API design

  • RESTful API design & documentation
  • GraphQL schema design
  • OpenAPI / Swagger specs
  • Versioning strategy
  • Rate limiting & throttling

Database

  • PostgreSQL schema design
  • Query optimisation & indexing
  • Migration strategy
  • Replication & backup configuration
  • ORM setup (Prisma, Drizzle)

Infrastructure

  • Authentication (JWT, OAuth, sessions)
  • Background job queuing
  • Webhook design & delivery
  • Caching (Redis, CDN)
  • Observability (logging, tracing, metrics)

How we work

The process

  1. 01

    Architecture review

    We review your existing system (or start fresh) and produce a data model and API contract before writing implementation code. Decisions at this stage are the most expensive to reverse.

  2. 02

    Core API build

    We build the core endpoints, authentication, and database schema. First working API available within 48 hours — documented, tested, and callable by your frontend team.

  3. 03

    Test coverage

    Every endpoint gets unit and integration test coverage before it ships. We target 80%+ coverage as a floor, not a ceiling.

  4. 04

    Load testing & handover

    We load test against your expected traffic before handover. You receive the full codebase, API documentation, and runbook.

Why ZimDevs

What sets us apart

  • 01

    Data model first

    We spend serious time on the data model before writing application code. A good schema prevents years of painful migrations. A bad one causes them.

  • 02

    Contract-driven development

    We define and document the API contract before implementation. Your frontend team can build against it immediately — no waiting for the backend to be "done".

  • 03

    80%+ test coverage

    We write tests as we build, not after. Every endpoint is covered by integration tests that run in CI on every commit.

  • 04

    Built for extension

    We design APIs with versioning and extension points built in. You can add new consumers, new endpoints, and new data sources without rewriting what already works.

Technology

The stack

  • Node.js
  • Python
  • FastAPI
  • Express
  • Hono
  • PostgreSQL
  • Redis
  • Prisma
  • Drizzle
  • Docker
  • GitHub Actions
  • Grafana

Ready to get started?

48 hours to first deploy. 100% on deadline. No vendor lock-in.