The only time I think GraphQL works is when it is when the GraphQL schema and resolvers are autogenerated by the underlying data stores. As a ORM layer, I love solutions like Postgraphile and Hasura where they mostly just reflect the structures you've already designed in your database. I also like REST solutions like PostgREST for the same reasons.

Then I'm designing my table structure, optionally designing my views when I don't want a 1:1 reflection of how data is stored, setting up row-level security at the data layer, and making user-defined functions for the one-offs that deviate from plain CRUD.

But solutions like Spring DGS for Java, Graphene for Python, and Apollo for Node? No thanks. Never again. Way too much trouble and pain. I'd rather make lambdas that talk to the data store directly and output HTML than make and maintain a GraphQL schema manually again.

I really wish Postgraphile and Hasura were more popular, so folks could have skipped the low level plumbing and optimization fences like dataloaders that make GraphQL such a chore otherwise.

It really is elegant when you're not stuck in a swamp.