0

Our company is setting up an iOS app where the user sends some data to our backend server and it performs some CPU/ GPU intensive tasks. We are considering either buying a series of mac-minis build our own server OR use a service like MacStadium/ Amazon Mac instance.

Usually it would be a no brainer to go with a dedicated provider, but the cost is major consideration (one instance of mac mini per year is roughly equal to a new mac mini).

So back to the question:

Can you build a reliable and scalable Mac mini backend server, in-house?

I understand that you can use the macOS server app to do home server, can you scale it for medium size business? Also, I am fairly inexperience in building server, any tips or consideration would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

Yes, ofcourse it is possible to build a reliable and scalable Mac Mini backend server in-house - otherwise how would companies like MacStadium and Amazon do it.

However, that doesn't mean that anyone can do this. It requires skills, resources and time.

The one thing that I note most about your question is that you include no reasoning in your question for why you're looking at a Mac at all. There's no requirement that the backend server for an iOS app needs to be Mac-based.

In practice, I would venture the guess that most backends for iOS apps are Linux-based servers. Often in the form of cloud services from companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and others.

Improve this answer
14
  • Thank you. Yes, the main reason is because there is an API from Mac that we have to use. Otherwise, I would 100% use a linux server.
    – steve
    Commented Jan 28, 2022 at 0:41
  • Which API is that? Many of them have implementations on other operating systems.
    – jksoegaard
    Commented Jan 28, 2022 at 1:47
  • One additional thing to consider is scaling. If you can't control the number of users your app gets you may be facing a sudden increase (or decrease) in computing power needs on the backend. Unless you build your own solution to scale (get a new Mini in, configured and up&running within hours) a cloud-based solution may have benefits here.
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Jan 28, 2022 at 6:34
  • We would like to run RealityKit in the background. As a follow up question. Once you have the macOS server setup, how do you let the user run a particular API function without giving them remote access? (any good tutorials out there?)
    – steve
    Commented Jan 28, 2022 at 17:30
  • Yes, it's tempting to use a cloud-based solution. I am not exactly sure how many visits we will get. Right now I am just trying to figure out the basics (ex. how to set up a basic server so when the user sends the server a command, it returns "hello world" from swift.
    – steve
    Commented Jan 28, 2022 at 17:42

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .