Question: I need a platform that can help me build scalable backend services quickly, without vendor lock-ins or black boxes.

If you need a platform to build scalable backend services fast with no vendor lock-ins or black boxes, BuildShip is a great option. It provides a low-code visual backend builder that spans no-code and code development, using AI to rapidly create workflows, APIs, scheduled jobs and cloud functions. Features include an embedded Firestore database or the ability to use your own, unlimited cloud storage, secret manager, and support for more than 1 million NPM packages. BuildShip also can connect to many services and offers more advanced dev tools like autocomplete, a debugger and sandboxing environment, making it a good option for developers, teams and companies.

Another contender is Amplication, an open-source platform for .NET and Node.js app development. It uses AI to generate a production-ready backend in a matter of minutes, with full-featured GraphQL and REST APIs, a simple data model definition, role-based access control and microservices support. Amplication provides full ownership of source code and a plugin system for easy customization and modification. It also offers a free community developer license and flexible enterprise plans, and it's certified for SOC-2 for high data security and privacy standards.

If you prefer a no-code approach, Contember could be a good option. It lets developers rapidly set up custom software projects by describing what they need in plain English and getting a working prototype in 15 minutes. With modules for common business tasks, such as customer management and inventory tracking, Contember is a relatively affordable and highly customizable option. The platform offers a free Developer Sandbox and tiered pricing plans, so it's good for small to medium-sized businesses.

Last, take a look at Supabase, an open-source Firebase alternative that lets you create production-ready apps with a Postgres database, user authentication, instant APIs, real-time subscriptions and storage. Supabase has templates for common use cases and supports frameworks like Next.js and Flutter. With a free tier and flexible paid plans, Supabase is a good option for scalable backend development with no vendor lock-ins.