A lightweight, single-binary Backend-as-a-Service. All the essential backend services in one Go binary, with PostgreSQL as the only dependency.

The Backend That Started With Frustration

Fluxbase wasn’t planned. It emerged from a specific problem: the Wayli location tracking app needed a backend that people could actually self-host.

The original Wayli stack required 15 containers when using Supabase-analytics, auth, edge functions, image processing, log aggregation, and more. All impressive features, but overkill for a simple location tracker. The barrier to self-hosting was simply too high.

So I built Fluxbase: a backend that does what most projects actually need, without the operational complexity.

What is Fluxbase?

Fluxbase is a lightweight Backend-as-a-Service packed into a single Go binary. It provides all the essential services-REST API, authentication, realtime, storage, edge functions, AI chatbots-in one deployable artifact.

graph TB C[Client] --> API[REST API] C --> RT[Realtime] C --> AI[AI Chatbots] subgraph FB["Fluxbase (1 container)"] API AUTH[Authentication] RT ST[Storage] FN[Edge Functions] AI end API & AUTH & RT & FN & AI --> DB[(PostgreSQL)] ST --> S3[S3/Local Storage] ST --> DB

Fluxbase: all services in one container, PostgreSQL as the only dependency

The only external dependency is PostgreSQL. No Redis, no message queues, no additional services to orchestrate. Just Fluxbase and your database.

Fluxbase documentation — Fluxbase provides comprehensive documentation for all features

Core Features

Auto-Generated REST APIs

Create a table in PostgreSQL, get a REST API automatically. Fluxbase uses PostgREST-compatible query syntax, so if you’ve used Supabase before, you already know how to use it.

Fluxbase tables view — Manage your database tables directly from the admin dashboard

Authentication

Built-in authentication with multiple methods:

Email/password - Traditional signup and login
Magic links - Passwordless authentication
OAuth providers - Google, GitHub, GitLab, and more
SAML SSO - Enterprise single sign-on

All using JWT tokens with configurable expiration and refresh flows.

Realtime

WebSocket-based realtime subscriptions for live data updates, built on PostgreSQL’s LISTEN/NOTIFY for reliable change detection.

Storage

File storage with flexible backends:

Local filesystem - Simple, no external dependencies
S3-compatible - AWS S3, MinIO, Cloudflare R2

Includes access policies, signed URLs, and image transformations.

Edge Functions

Serverless JavaScript/TypeScript functions with Deno runtime:

HTTP-triggered functions
Scheduled functions (cron)
Database webhook triggers

Deploy via CLI, API, or the admin dashboard.

AI Chatbots

Fluxbase includes built-in AI chatbot capabilities that integrate directly with your data:

Automatic API endpoints - Each chatbot gets its own REST endpoint for system prompts and configuration
Database-aware - Chatbots can query your PostgreSQL tables using natural language, with the schema automatically provided as context
User identity - Queries run with the authenticated user’s permissions, ensuring row-level security is respected
Multiple providers - Support for OpenAI, Anthropic, and other LLM providers
Streaming responses - Real-time responses via WebSocket
Rate limiting - Token budgets and usage controls

This isn’t a separate service bolted on-it’s built into the same binary, using the same authentication and database connection.

Why Fluxbase?

Simplicity First

The entire backend is one process. One thing to deploy, one thing to monitor, one thing to update.

Aspect	Traditional BaaS	Fluxbase
Containers	15+	2 (Fluxbase + PostgreSQL)
Configuration	Multiple files	One file
Deployment	Docker Compose / K8s	Single binary or container
Maintenance	Coordinate versions	One artifact

Designed for Self-Hosting

Fluxbase was built from the ground up for self-hosting:

Admin dashboard - Configure everything through a web UI
Hot reloading - Most changes apply without restarts
Single database - All state in PostgreSQL, easy to backup and migrate
Runs anywhere - VPS, homelab, Raspberry Pi

Fluxbase admin dashboard — The admin dashboard provides complete control over your backend

No Vendor Lock-in

Fluxbase is open source (AGPLv3). Your backend isn’t dependent on a company’s roadmap or pricing changes.

PostgREST Compatibility

The REST API uses the same query syntax as Supabase’s PostgREST layer. Migrating existing projects requires minimal code changes-mostly updating import statements.

Who Is Fluxbase For?

Startups and side projects - Focus on building, not infrastructure. Get a complete backend in minutes.

Homelab enthusiasts - Run a full backend stack without managing microservices.

Privacy-conscious developers - Own your data and infrastructure without sacrificing features.

Teams with compliance needs - Deploy anywhere PostgreSQL runs, on-premise or cloud.

Proven in Production

Fluxbase isn’t just a proof of concept. Wayli runs on it-every API call, every realtime update, every AI query. Real users, real traffic, real edge cases. The symbiotic relationship between Wayli and Fluxbase means every improvement to one benefits the other.

Wayli and Fluxbase improve each other through real-world usage

The Road Ahead

Fluxbase is actively developed. Recent additions include:

Database branching - Isolated database branches for development
MCP server - Integration with AI coding assistants
Vector search - Semantic search capabilities
Knowledge bases - Document-based AI assistants

The roadmap focuses on making Fluxbase more capable while maintaining its core principle: simplicity.

Try It Out

If you’ve been looking for a backend that’s powerful enough for production but simple enough to understand, give Fluxbase a try.

Documentation - Comprehensive guides and API reference
GitHub - Source code and releases
Discord - Community and support

Your backend doesn’t have to be complicated. Fluxbase proves it.