PocketBase is an open source backend framework written in Go that packages a complete backend solution into a single executable file. The project provides an embedded SQLite database with realtime subscription capabilities, built-in file and user management, a web-based Admin dashboard UI, and a REST-ish API for client applications. The framework is designed to enable rapid development of backend services without requiring separate infrastructure components.
The repository supports two primary usage patterns. Users can download prebuilt executables from the Releases page and run them directly using the `./pocketbase serve` command, making it accessible to non-developers. Alternatively, developers can use PocketBase as a Go library to build custom applications with their own business logic while maintaining a single portable executable output. The prebuilt executables include JavaScript VM plugin support by default, allowing extension through JavaScript code. The project requires Go 1.25 or later for building from source.
PocketBase provides official SDK clients for JavaScript and Dart to facilitate interaction with its Web APIs. The JavaScript SDK supports browsers, Node.js, and React Native environments, while the Dart SDK works across web, mobile, desktop, and CLI platforms. This multi-platform SDK support enables developers to build diverse client applications against PocketBase backends.
The project's contributor base overlaps with major repositories including microsoft/vscode, flutter/flutter, and microsoft/typescript, suggesting adoption across diverse development communities.
The repository is classified across multiple functional categories including backend service, realtime database, authentication, API server, admin dashboard, file storage, and rapid development framework. The SQLite embedded approach provides a lightweight, zero-configuration database solution suitable for small to medium-scale applications.
PocketBase remains under active development with a stated goal of reaching version 1.0.0, and the project documentation explicitly notes that full backward compatibility is not guaranteed before that milestone. The project is licensed under the MIT License, permitting both open source and commercial use. The maintainers have established a formal roadmap and request that contributors discuss feature implementations before submitting pull requests to avoid redundant work. Due to recent spam concerns, pull request creation is currently restricted to existing collaborators, though issue reporting and discussions remain open to the community.
