frontami

Frontami is a term used in discussions of front-end architecture to describe a modular, API-driven approach to building user interfaces. It denotes practices that assemble UIs from independently deployable components and backend-provided fragments, rather than from a single monolithic front end.

Origin and usage: The term appears in blog posts, talks, and open-source projects related to microfrontends, API-first design, and component orchestration. It is not defined by a single specification, and interpretations vary across organizations.

Core concepts and architecture: Frontami emphasizes modular components with clear data and UI contracts; an orchestration layer to assemble the final UI from fragments; and an ability to load content from multiple backends, either server-rendered or client-rendered.

Benefits and challenges: Proponents cite scalability and faster feature delivery through independent deployments; critics warn of added architectural complexity, potential performance overhead, and the need for robust contract versioning and monitoring.

Examples and related topics: In practice, teams discuss frontami within microfrontend strategies, contract-driven UI, or API-first front-end design. Related ideas include microfrontends, component libraries, and server-driven UI.