PocketBase
pocketbase.io- Category
- Developer Tools
- Rank
- No. 62Tools index
- Listed in
- #4 Add a backend
- Pricing
- Open Source
- Type
- TOOL
- Builder
- pocketbase
- GitHub
- 61.0k stars
- Latest release
- v0.40.3
- Date
About
Single-file Go backend — SQLite, realtime, auth, storage, admin UI. Drop-in BaaS.
What it does
PocketBase turns application collections into a managed web backend. You can run its prebuilt server, extend that server with JavaScript, or embed the Go package and add business logic while retaining a portable executable.
Why it's ranked here
PocketBase makes a strong case when operational simplicity and backend breadth matter together. Its collection model, event hooks, client SDKs, tests, and backup machinery cover serious application needs. The explicit warning about unstable compatibility before 1.0 keeps the verdict measured.
What's good
It supports standalone deployment and deeper Go integration without splitting the application into separate services. Read queries and writes use different SQLite connection pools to reduce lock errors. Hooks cover application events, records, collections, authentication, files, mail, settings, and realtime traffic. Backups support local or S3 storage.
Tradeoffs
Full backward compatibility is not guaranteed before 1.0. Backup creation temporarily blocks new writes, and S3-hosted collection files require separate backup handling. Restore is experimental, excludes Windows, restarts the process, and needs substantial free disk space. SQLite write operations intentionally pass through a single-connection pool.
How to use it well
Choose it for compact applications whose team wants a ready backend but may need custom JavaScript or Go logic later. Start with the prebuilt executable, then embed the library when domain behavior grows. Use official JavaScript or Dart clients for web APIs. Plan separately for external S3 file backups and Windows restore procedures.
Technical notes+
README.md documents the standalone pocketbase serve path, the JavaScript VM included in prebuilt executables, and Go library embedding. go.mod declares Go 1.25.0 and the pure-Go modernc.org/sqlite driver. core/app.go defines the broad App interface, including migrations, transactions, subscriptions, mail, filesystems, and backups. core/base.go implements dual concurrent and nonconcurrent database builders plus extensive typed hooks. core/base_backup.go creates archives inside nested transactions, supports local or S3 backup storage, and rejects restore on Windows. core/base_test.go and core/base_backup_test.go exercise bootstrap state, pool routing, filesystems, logging, backup contents, and restore errors.
Observed
- License
- MIT License
- Primary language
- Go
- Packaging
- Prebuilt standalone executables and a regular Go library package
- Interfaces
- CLI server, REST-ish web API, Go library, and Admin dashboard UI
- Official clients
- JavaScript SDK for browser, Node.js, and React Native; Dart SDK for web, mobile, desktop, and CLI
- Platform targets
- Build targets listed for Darwin, FreeBSD, Linux, and Windows across multiple architectures
- Testing
- Repository includes unit and integration tests run with the standard Go test command
Read from README.md, go.mod, Makefile, core/app.go, core/base.go, core/base_test.go, core/base_backup.go, core/base_backup_test.go, core/collection_model.go, core/collection_query.go, core/auth_origin_model.go, core/auth_origin_query.go.
Tech Stack
Comments (0)
No comments yet
Editorially curated, with community endorsements as a secondary signal. Corrections welcome.