explaingit

pocketbase/pocketbase

🔥 Hot★ 58,415GoAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5ActiveLicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A single-file backend that bundles database, authentication, file storage, API, and admin panel, download and run it, no setup required.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((PocketBase))
    What it does
      SQLite database
      User authentication
      File storage
      Real-time subscriptions
    How to use it
      Download binary
      Embed in Go apps
      REST API
    Features
      Admin dashboard
      SDK clients
      No dependencies
    Best for
      Rapid prototyping
      Small teams
      Personal projects

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Build a web or mobile app backend without managing separate database and server infrastructure.

USE CASE 2

Prototype a startup idea quickly with built-in authentication and file uploads.

USE CASE 3

Run a small production service on a single machine with real-time data sync for collaborative apps.

USE CASE 4

Embed PocketBase into a custom Go application to add your own business logic while keeping all backend features.

Tech stack

GoSQLiteREST APIJavaScript SDKDart SDK

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

PocketBase is a complete backend for web and mobile applications that ships as a single executable file. The problem it solves is that building the back-end infrastructure for an app typically requires setting up multiple separate services: a database, user authentication, file storage, an API server, and an admin panel. PocketBase bundles all of these into one small program you can run anywhere. You get a database powered by SQLite, built-in user account management, file upload and storage, real-time data subscriptions so your app can react to changes instantly, a REST API for interacting with all of the above, and an admin dashboard to manage data visually, all in one download. Because SQLite is an embedded database that stores everything in a single file on disk, PocketBase has no external database dependency, making setup extremely simple: you download the binary, run it, and your backend is live. It supports real-time subscriptions, meaning your frontend application can listen for changes to records and get notified immediately when data is updated by another user. In addition to using it as a standalone application, you can also import PocketBase as a Go library and embed it into your own custom Go application, allowing you to add your own routes and business logic while keeping all the included features. Official SDK clients are available for JavaScript and Dart, making it accessible for web, mobile, and desktop app development. PocketBase is written in Go and licensed under MIT. You would choose it when you want to rapidly prototype an app or build a small-to-medium production service without managing complex server infrastructure, particularly for personal projects or small teams.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I set up PocketBase and create my first database table with user authentication?
Prompt 2
Show me how to use the PocketBase JavaScript SDK to fetch records and subscribe to real-time updates in a React app.
Prompt 3
How do I embed PocketBase as a library in my Go application and add custom API routes?
Prompt 4
What's the best way to deploy PocketBase to production for a small team project?
Prompt 5
How do I configure file uploads and storage in PocketBase for a mobile app?
Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.