TrailBase
Single-binary backend server with type-safe APIs, auth, and realtime
TrailBase is an open-source application server designed as a lightweight Firebase-style backend you can run as a single executable. It provides database-backed REST and realtime APIs, built-in authentication, an optional admin UI, and a WebAssembly runtime for extending server-side logic.
Key Features
- Single-binary deployment for consistent environments (dev, testing, edge, production)
- Type-safe RESTful CRUD APIs exposing tables and views
- Realtime subscriptions for push-based data change sync
- Built-in authentication with JWT access tokens and refresh tokens
- Optional built-in admin dashboard for configuration and data exploration
- Authorization via ACLs and SQL-based access rules
- Built-in WebAssembly runtime for extending functionality with guest languages
Use Cases
- Backend-as-a-service for mobile, web, and desktop applications
- Realtime data sync for collaborative or event-driven apps
- Lightweight deployments where SQLite and a single executable simplify operations
Limitations and Considerations
- SQLite-based architecture may not fit workloads requiring a separate scalable SQL cluster
- Extending behavior via WebAssembly requires building and managing WASM components
TrailBase is a good fit when you want a fast, low-ops backend that still provides core BaaS capabilities like auth, realtime updates, and API generation. Its single-binary approach and standards-oriented design help reduce operational complexity and vendor lock-in.
Categories:
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Tech Stack:
SQLite
Docker
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