PocketBase

PocketBase is an open-source backend-as-a-service solution that combines a database, authentication, and file storage into a single executable. This approach eliminates the need to manage multiple separate services for a project's backend infrastructure.

Users can deploy the software as a standalone application by running a prebuilt binary or integrate it as a Go framework to build custom business logic. It is accessed via a REST-ish API and includes a web-based admin dashboard for managing data and users. This makes it suitable for developers who need a quick setup for web or mobile applications without the overhead of complex cloud configurations.

Key features

• Embedded SQLite database with realtime subscriptions
• Built-in user authentication and management
• Integrated file storage system
• Web-based Admin dashboard UI
• REST-ish API for data interaction
• Official SDK clients for JavaScript and Dart
• Support for extending functionality via JavaScript VM
• Ability to use as a Go library for custom application logic

The architecture is designed for portability, resulting in a single statically linked executable that simplifies deployment across different environments. It supports a wide range of build targets across Linux, macOS, and Windows, including various CPU architectures like amd64, arm64, and riscv64. Developers can interact with the backend using the JavaScript SDK for browser, Node.js, or React Native environments, or the Dart SDK for web, mobile, desktop, and CLI applications. Because it uses an embedded SQLite driver, it avoids the requirement for a separate database server installation, keeping the footprint small.

For those requiring more than the standard API, the software allows for the registration of custom routes and business logic through Go. This flexibility allows the tool to function both as a ready-to-use backend and as a toolkit for building specialized applications. The inclusion of a JS VM plugin in the prebuilt executables further allows for extensions without needing to recompile the entire binary.

PocketBase is a lightweight backend for developers who prefer a self-contained system over distributed cloud services.