PocketBase
An open-source, lightweight backend-as-a-service consisting of a single compiled file that includes an embedded SQLite database, authentication, and a real-time API.
What it is
PocketBase is the ultimate minimalist backend. It consolidates a database, an admin dashboard, user authentication, and file storage into one single executable file. It requires zero configuration to deploy and is incredibly fast, making it a favorite for rapid prototyping, hobby projects, and self-hosted deployments.
When you would use it
You use PocketBase when you want a highly portable, completely self-contained backend without the complexity and overhead of managing Docker containers or external cloud databases.
Common operations
- Standing up a fully functional backend API and database in under a minute locally.
- Hosting a lightweight SaaS backend efficiently on a very cheap VPS (Virtual Private Server).