How Ant Group’s Serverless Front‑End Platform Boosts Large‑Scale Development

Ant Group Business Front‑End Development System

Ant Group’s front‑end ecosystem spans PC web, H5, mini‑programs, native apps, and large screens, with YuEBao primarily using H5, BFF, and mini‑programs.

Current Front‑End Development Process

The workflow includes system analysis design ("系分") and test design ("测分"). System analysis covers requirement research, functional design, extensibility, maintainability, and key code implementation.

Documentation such as flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and interface specifications often become outdated due to frequent requirement changes, leading to inconsistency and scattered files.

Enterprise‑level applications face slow packaging and deployment because of high code complexity and numerous dependencies.

In production, large user bases and strict safety requirements demand fallback code, monitoring, caching, retries, and degradation strategies, extending development time.

BFF (Backend For Frontend) introduces request aggregation and data trimming, increasing front‑end development complexity in high‑risk financial scenarios.

Light Development Platform Capabilities

The platform improves efficiency through three core ideas: "Document as Code", "Function‑Level Development Deployment", and "Integrated Environment Plugin Capability".

1. Function‑Level Development Deployment

Multiple front‑end applications and BFF services are packaged as functions using Faas technology, enabling zero‑environment‑dependency, independent deployment, and out‑of‑the‑box usage.

This approach also supports integrated UI‑data cards, where UI and data are tightly coupled and delivered together.

2. Document as Code

All artifacts—requirements, designs, visual mockups, configurations—are centrally managed, allowing automated generation of code, flowcharts, and sequence diagrams to keep documentation and code synchronized.

Automation can transform visual designs into code and generate monitoring or emergency plans from configuration documents.

3. Integrated Environment Plugin Capability

The platform offers plugin interfaces for each development stage, allowing teams to customize workflows or integrate third‑party tools such as the D2C capability from the insurance team.

Summary of Core Ideas

1. Document as Code: Centralize structured and unstructured documents and generate code automatically.

2. Function‑Level Development Deployment: Deploy BFF interfaces and integrated cards independently, without environment dependencies.

3. Integrated Environment Plugin Capability: Reuse excellent third‑party solutions and tailor workflows to specific needs.