azure-deployment-data-api-builder

name	azure-deployment-data-api-builder
description	Compare Azure hosting options for Data API Builder and choose ACA, App Service, ACI, AKS, local, or source hosting.
license	MIT

Azure Deployment Data API Builder

Use when

• Picking an Azure host for DAB (MCP, REST, GraphQL).
• Standing up a new deployment and weighing trade-offs.
• Planning image, config, identity, and secret strategy before IaC.

Workflow

1. Pick a host:
   • Azure Container Apps — default for serverless containers, revisions, traffic splitting, and scale-to-zero.
   • Azure App Service (Linux) — code-based or custom container PaaS with TLS, domains, Easy Auth, and scale-out.
   • Azure Container Instances — quick single-container demos and short-lived jobs.
   • AKS — only when you already run Kubernetes and need full control.
   • Local Docker / CLI / source — dev, tests, and contribution workflows.
2. Pick an image strategy:
   • ACA/AKS/ACI: custom image with dab-config.json baked in (immutable, versioned).
   • App Service: code ZIP with local DAB tool manifest, or a custom container.
3. Pick a secret strategy:
   • Microsoft Entra authentication and managed identity to Azure SQL where feasible.
   • Host secret refs or Key Vault references for any remaining secrets.
4. Gate rollouts on /health and confirm REST/GraphQL/MCP endpoints respond.

Static Web Apps

• Static Web Apps database connections are based on DAB and use /data-api.
• Treat SWA database connections as legacy: Microsoft Learn marks retirement for November 30, 2025.
• For new cloud DAB deployments, prefer ACA or App Service.

Guardrails

• Never commit connection strings or keys; use Key Vault references or managed identity.
• Avoid cloud file-share mounts for dab-config.json; bake or deploy it as an artifact.
• Keep one DAB config exposing MCP + REST + GraphQL — do not fork per host.
• Match host SKU to expected concurrency; DAB is stateless but DB-bound.

Related skills

• azure-data-api-builder (Azure Container Apps)
• azure-app-service-data-api-builder
• data-api-builder-config
• data-api-builder-auth

Microsoft Learn

• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/deployment/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/static-web-apps/database-overview