Pocketbase

indie hacker

The ultimate 'No-Infrastructure' backend. A single file that gives you a Realtime DB, Auth, and File Storage out of the box

#backend#database#auth

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Quick Start

./pocketbase serve

Overview

Pocketbase is a Go-based backend that fits everything into a single file. Perfect for building a SaaS fast without worrying about complex infrastructure. It’s Supabase, but simpler and cheaper.

Use Cases

Specific ways to use Pocketbase for your workflow.

The One-File Backend: Run your entire SaaS (DB, Auth, Storage) from a single 30MB executable.

Real-time Chat Apps: Use the built-in SDK to build instant sync features with zero WebSocket configuration.

Prototyping Engine: Spin up a full admin dashboard and API in under 60 seconds.

The Balanced View

Pros

Incredibly simple to deploy (single binary)
Built-in Admin UI is beautiful and functional
Extremely fast performance (written in Go)

Cons

Vertical scaling only (SQLite based)
Not ideal for massive multi-node clusters

Limitations & Constraints

Maximum of ~10,000 concurrent connections

Schema migrations are automatic but can be rigid

Deployment Strategy

Recommended ways to host Pocketbase in your own environment.

Bare Metal

Docker