Why We're Going All-In on Convex for Every New App Build

Let’s cut to the chase: building modern apps is a pain in the backend. Every project starts with the same existential questions—Firebase, Supabase, home-rolled SQL, or some Frankenstein’s monster of cloud services? After years of wrestling with state management, cache invalidation, and real-time sync bugs, our team decided to try something new. Enter Convex: the open-source, reactive database that’s quietly rewriting our definition of “easy backend.”

And yes, we’re using Convex to power Screenly, our all-in-one digital signage platform. If you’ve ever dreamed of managing content across TVs, kiosks, and tablets from a single dashboard—real-time, no USBs, no cables—Convex is a huge reason why Screenly can deliver that seamless experience.

Convex powers real-time digital signage for Screenly and beyond.

The Old Way: Patchwork, Pain, and Boilerplate

Before Convex, our stack was a patchwork quilt:

• Firebase: Real-time magic, but type safety? Not so much. Complex queries? Prepare to suffer.
• Supabase: SQL power, but suddenly we’re back in migration hell, and real-time is “best effort.”
• Do-It-Yourself: Roll-your-own with Postgres, websockets, S3, auth providers, and a prayer.
• State Management: Redux, Zustand, or just “hope React Query doesn’t explode.”
• Cache Invalidation: The two hardest problems in CS: naming things, off-by-one errors, and cache invalidation.

Every new feature meant another service, another integration, and another place for bugs to hide.

Convex: The All-In-One Reactive Backend

Convex flips the script. Here’s what makes it our new default for everything from internal dashboards to products like Screenly:

• Everything Is Code: Database schema, queries, mutations, auth—all in TypeScript, right next to your app code. No more context-switching or YAML spelunking.
• Real-Time by Default: Every change in your DB, backend, or frontend is instantly reflected everywhere. No websockets to wire up, no polling, no cache invalidation policies to invent. It Just Works™. This is a game-changer for digital signage—when you update content in Screenly, it’s live on every screen, instantly.
• Type Safety End-to-End: Define your schema in TypeScript, get autocomplete and typechecking everywhere, from client to server.
• Modular Components: Convex ships with plug-and-play backend components—auth, cron jobs, AI workflows, and more. Need OAuth? Cron jobs? Just npm i and you’re off.
• Open Source & Self-Hostable: Tired of vendor lock-in? Run Convex locally, or self-host with your own infra.
• AI-Assisted Coding: Convex’s AI tools can generate high-quality backend code, queries, and mutations—no more boilerplate, just business logic.
• First-Class Framework Support: React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Python, Rust—Convex plugs into your favorite stack in minutes.

How Does Convex Compare? (Spoiler: It’s Not Even Close)

Let’s break down how Convex stacks up against the usual suspects:

The Real-Time Magic (Why Screenly Loves Convex)

Convex’s real-time engine is its killer feature. For Screenly, this means when a user uploads or schedules new content, every connected screen updates in real time—no manual refresh, no delays, no “oops, that screen is still showing last week’s promo.” This is exactly the seamless experience digital signage needs.

TypeScript All the Way Down

If you’re a TypeScript nerd (guilty), Convex feels like coming home. Define your schema and API in TypeScript, and your IDE will catch mistakes before you even hit save. No more runtime surprises.

Modular, Pluggable Backend

Need cron jobs for scheduled content? Advanced auth for screen managers? Convex’s component system means you can add these with a single command. No more cobbling together 3rd-party services or maintaining custom glue code.

Open Source, No Lock-In

Unlike Firebase, Convex is open source and self-hostable. Start in the cloud, move to your own infra when you outgrow the free tier, or need extra compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR—all covered).

Real-World Wins: How Convex Changed Our Workflow

• Development Speed: We ship prototypes in days, not weeks. No more yak-shaving backend infra.
• Reliability: Real-time bugs and sync issues are basically gone. Our apps just… work. Screenly’s users expect instant updates, and Convex delivers.
• Onboarding: New devs get productive fast—if you know TypeScript, you know Convex.
• Cost Control: Transparent pricing, no surprise bills, and the option to self-host.

What About the Downsides?

No tool is perfect. Convex is still evolving—if you’re doing something deeply weird or need a super-custom DB engine, you might hit limits. But for 99% of modern app projects (including digital signage), it’s more than enough.

Getting Started: How to Go All-In on Convex

1. Spin Up a Project: npm create convex and you’re off to the races.
2. Define Your Schema: All in TypeScript, right next to your app code.
3. Write Queries & Mutations: Use Convex’s APIs—no context switching, no glue code.
4. Plug In Components: Need auth, cron, or AI? Just add the npm package.
5. Deploy Anywhere: Cloud, self-host, or hybrid—Convex fits your workflow.

Final Thoughts

We’ve tried every backend trick in the book, and Convex is the first platform that feels like it was built for the way modern teams actually build apps. Real-time is a given, TypeScript is king, and every piece fits together like LEGO. For us, going all-in on Convex isn’t just a tech choice—it’s a productivity superpower.

And for products like Screenly, Convex is the secret sauce that lets us deliver real-time, cloud-powered digital signage that just works—no cables, no headaches, just instant updates everywhere.

We like that at kosal.io.

Ready to try it?
👉 convex.dev – The backend for AI-powered, real-time apps.
👉 Screenly – The easiest way to manage digital signage across all your screens.