Implementing Server-Driven UI with Elixir and GraphQL at Cars.com

In this episode, Zack Kayser, a Staff Software Engineer at Cars.com, shares insights on the adoption of a server-driven UI (SDUI) architecture powered by Elixir and GraphQL. The discussion focuses on the importance of SDUI for increasing feature velocity, the foundational role of a mature design system, and the cultural and technical shifts necessary for integrating UI logic into a backend system. Key topics include the differences between SDUI and traditional server-side rendering, using GraphQL as the single source of truth, defining abstract UI components on the server to eliminate redundancy, and the strategies for API-first development and seamless cross-team collaboration. Zack also addresses challenges like handling breaking changes, implementing iterative rollouts versus big-bang migrations, and the significance of integration testing to catch UI regressions early.