Software Alternatives & Startups

CloudShell VS StepZen

Compare CloudShell VS StepZen and see what are their differences

CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.

Rating
0 reviews
StepZen

A low code way to create GraphQL APIs for any backend—REST, SQL, NoSQL, SOAP/XML. Deploy a single or federated graph to StepZen's cloud and run with built-in parallel execution, security for APIs and data, and performance & reliability optimizations.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

CloudShell might be a bit more popular than StepZen. We know about 13 links to it since March 2021 and only 10 links to StepZen.

social mentions
13 vs 10
Text Editors popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
65 vs 15

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

CloudShell
StepZen
Website docs.cloud.google.com stepzen.com
Pricing —
Open source Official pricing
Company — 2021
Listed in

About CloudShell and StepZen

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

CloudShell
StepZen

No description of CloudShell yet.

StepZen provides a unique low code approach to creating GraphQL APIs for any data source—REST, SQL, NoSQL, SOAP/XML, and GraphQL. With one command, you can specify your backend; StepZen introspects it and generates the schema for you. Then, with a few lines of code and powerful directives (@rest,...

Read more about StepZen

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

CloudShell 7 features
StepZen 5 features
  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.
  • Ease of Integration
    StepZen simplifies the process of integrating various APIs by allowing developers to create GraphQL endpoints with minimal configuration.
  • GraphQL Optimization
    StepZen automatically optimizes GraphQL queries, improving performance by minimizing over-fetching and under-fetching of data.
  • Developer Experience
    The platform offers a robust set of tools and an intuitive interface, enhancing the overall developer experience when building and deploying APIs.
  • Unified Data Layer
    StepZen enables the creation of a unified data layer, making it easier to aggregate and manage data from multiple sources.
  • Customization
    With StepZen, developers can customize their GraphQL endpoints to cater to specific use cases and business requirements.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    Although it's designed to be user-friendly, new users might encounter a learning curve when getting acquainted with the tool's features and capabilities.
  • Cost
    Depending on the scale and number of integrations, using StepZen might incur additional costs that need to be justified against its benefits.
  • Limited Offline Support
    Since StepZen is primarily a cloud-based solution, it may have limited capabilities when it comes to offline or local development environments.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Relying on StepZen could make applications dependent on an external service, which may impact control over the development process and data handling.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

CloudShell
StepZen

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

No analysis of StepZen yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

CloudShell 0 videos + Add
StepZen 2 videos + Add

No CloudShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Build an API With The StepZen GraphQL Studio (API Workshop)

More videos

  • - Learn How To Query Any HarperDB Database With GraphQL Using StepZen

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
CloudShell
StepZen
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using CloudShell and StepZen. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

CloudShell 13 mentions
StepZen 10 mentions
  • GCP Fundamentals: Cloud Shell API
    The Google Cloud Shell API empowers organizations to automate cloud operations, accelerate software delivery, and improve efficiency. By providing a programmatic interface for managing Cloud Shell environments, the API unlocks new... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago

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  • Automatically Generate REST and GraphQL APIs From Your Database
    StepZen and AWS AppSync excel at generating GraphQL APIs for MySQL and NoSQL databases. StepZen simplifies the process of combining multiple data sources, while AppSync provides smooth integration with AWS services and real-time data... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Query Real-time Data With GraphQL And Streaming Database
    StepZen is a platform to build and deploy GraphQL APIs that integrates and aggregate data from various sources. In the demo section, I will show how to build a GraphQL API in declarative code using StepZen. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Using SingleStoreDB, WebAssembly and GraphQL
    The final step is to use GraphQL. We'll create a free account on StepZen. Once logged-in, we can access the Account, Admin Key and API Key. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to CloudShell and StepZen

When comparing CloudShell and StepZen, you can also consider the following products.