If you’re a developer looking for a simple, fast, and self-hosted backend, Pocket base It may be exactly what you need.
It’s an open-source backend written in Go that lets you configure a complete backend with database, validation, file storage, and real-time updates in a single executable file.
In this guide, we’ll explore what makes PocketBase special, how to set it up, and how you can deploy it in the cloud.
What we will cover:
What is pocket base?
PocketBase is an all-in-one backend that provides everything you need to power a modern web or mobile app, eliminating the need for large infrastructure.
This includes embedded sqlite Database, real-time subscriptions, file and user management, a clean admin dashboard, and REST-style API.
Since it runs from a single file, you can deploy it anywhere, from a VPS to your local machine or even a Raspberry Pi.
It is designed for developers who want control and simplicity at the same time. You don’t need to manage separate servers for authentication, storage, and API endpoints. PocketBase handles it all out of the box. You can use it as a standalone backend to build custom solutions or embed it in your Go application.
Why Developers Love PocketBase
Pocket base Focused on speed and simplicity. You don’t need to install multiple packages or services.
Once downloaded, you can launch it with a single command. Then it will launch the web-based admin dashboard.
The database is built using SQLite, which means data is stored locally by default, but you can use extensions to integrate it into your existing workflows or cloud storage.
Another major advantage is its real-time capabilities. Every change to the database can be instantly broadcast to clients connected via WebSocket subscriptions. This makes it perfect for building apps like chat systems, dashboards, and collaboration tools that require quick updates.
How to install Pocketbase
Running PocketBase takes less than a minute. You can download a Prebuilt executables From the official release page.
It supports all major platforms including Windows, macOS and Linux.
Once downloaded, extract the archive and navigate to the folder in your terminal. Run the following command:
./pocketbase serve
This command starts a local server and launches the admin dashboard http://127.0.0.1:8090/_/. From there, you can create collections, add users, upload files, and manage data. There are no setup wizards or installation of dependencies—everything is self-contained within a single binary.
If you are a Go developer, you can also install PocketBase as a Go module and use it directly in your project to create custom logic or extend existing APIs.
Using PocketBase as a GO framework
Pocket can act as a base Go framework, letting you develop your own backend logic while keeping everything in one file. Here’s a simple example that shows how you can extend it with a custom route.
package main
import (
"log"
"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase"
"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/core"
)
func main() {
app := pocketbase.New()
app.OnServe().BindFunc(func(se *core.ServeEvent) error {
se.Router.GET("/hello", func(re *core.RequestEvent) error {
return re.String(200, "Hello world!")
})
return se.Next()
})
if err := app.Start(); err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
}
Once the file is ready, run these commands:
go mod init myapp && go mod tidy
go run main.go serve
You will now have a Pocketbase dashboard and a working background with your custom /hello The endpoint is available at the same time.
This makes Pocketbase flexible, you can use it as a ready-to-build backend or as part of a more complex Go project.
Extending Pocketbase with JavaScript
PocketBase includes a built-in JavaScript engine that lets you extend the GO code’s behavior without modifying or refactoring it. This makes it easy to add custom logic, validation, automation, and event-driven workflows directly within your backend.
You can create JavaScript files inside the PB_HOKS folder, and Pocketbase will load and run automatically. These scripts can listen for events like record creation, update, validation and more.
Here’s a simple example that sends a welcome email whenever a new user signs up.
Create a file called Pb_hooks/user_email.j inside your pocket base directory:
onRecordAfterCreate("users", async (e) => {
const user = e.record;
console.log("New user registered:", user.email);
const emailResponse = await $http.send({
url: "https://api.example.com/send-email",
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
to: user.email,
subject: "Welcome to our app!",
message: `Hi ${user.username}, thanks for signing up!`
}),
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
});
console.log("Email status:", emailResponse.status);
});
This script runs automatically whenever a new record is created in the Users collection. It picks the user’s email, logs it, and uses Pocketbase’s built-in HTTP client ($HTTP) to call an external email service.
You can use the same pattern to save, trigger webhooks, block actions, or validate data before updating related records. Since everything runs inside PocketBase, you don’t need additional servers or functions to automate the backend logic.
This makes it friendly for teams that may not be comfortable with GO but still want to add dynamic logic to their backend. You can find more details in the official documentation.Extend with JavaScript.
Using SDK to communicate with Pocketbase
To make it easy to interact with your backend, Pocketbase provides official SDKs for JavaScript and Dart.
JavaScript SDK works well for browser-based or Node.js projects, while Dart SDK is ideal for mobile apps built with Flutter. Both SDKs provide an easy way to connect, authenticate users, and perform CRUD operations without manually writing HTTP requests.
For example, in JavaScript you can concatenate and fetch data like this:
import PocketBase from 'pocketbase'
const pb = new PocketBase('http://127.0.0.1:8090')
const records = await pb.collection('posts').getList(1, 20)
console.log(records)
This simplicity allows you to focus on building your front-end while PocketBase handles validation, database operations and real-time updates.
Self-hosting Pocketbase using Seola
When you’re ready to move on from testing, PocketBase gives you two options. You can host it yourself using your own infrastructure or use their managed cloud version packetbase.io.
Self-hosting gives you complete control and is generally preferred by technical teams who want to keep sensitive data in-house.
You can choose any cloud provider, such as AWS, Digitalisan, or others to deploy Pocketbase. But I will use Siola.
Seoul is a PAAS provider designed for developers and dev teams to consistently ship features and updates in the most efficient manner. It offers application hosting, database, object storage, and static site hosting for your projects.
I’m using Siola for two reasons:
Each platform will charge you to create a cloud resource. Siola comes with a $50 credit for our use, so we won’t incur any costs for this instance.
Seoul has one Template for uncleso it simplifies the manual installation and setup for each resource you’ll need to install.
Login Click on Seela and Templates. You can see Jebasas as one of the templates.
Click on the “Pocket Base” template. You will see the resources required to deliver the application. Click on “Deploy Template”:
You can see that the resources are provisioned. Once the configuration is complete, go to the Pocketbase application and click on “View App”.
You will see a 404 message. add _ URL and you will see login dashboard.
To log in for the first time, you will need a superuser login. To do this, go back to the application and click “Log”. You will get a URL that starts with
Replace 0.0.0.0 with your new Cloud URL and copy the full path into the browser. You will see an option to create a superuser for your Pocketbase deployment.
Once you have created a super user, you can go again /_ And login using username and password. You should now see the PocketBase dashboard.
You now have a production-grade PocketBase server running on the cloud. You can use JavaScript or other SDKs to set up tables for your database and communicate with PocketBase.
Security and open source nature
PocketBase is open source and licensed under the MIT, which means you are free to use it for personal or commercial projects. If you find a bug or security issue, you can report it to the maintainers, and they will address it immediately.
The project’s transparent development and active community make it a solid choice for startups, indie developers, and hobbyists who prefer to own their own infrastructure.
Since it is still in active development, backward compatibility prior to version 1.0 is not guaranteed. But it is already stable enough for small to medium applications.
When using Pocket Base
Pocket Base is perfect for projects that require a simple backend with low maintenance. It’s ideal for prototypes, small SaaS products, indie apps, internal tools, and educational projects.
Instead of setting up a complex stack with PostgreSQL, Node.js, and Ninx, you can get your backend up and running immediately and focus on your product.
Suppose your project later grows into something bigger. In this case, you can migrate to a more complex setup or continue using PocketBase as a lightweight service for specific features like authentication or real-time data sync.
The result
PocketBase brings back the joy of rapid development without complicated setup. With just one executable, you get a backend that supports authentication, real-time updates, file uploads, and an admin dashboard. It’s open source, fast and customizable, making it a great choice for developers who want to move quickly without giving up control.
Whether you’re building a personal app, a startup MVP, or an internal dashboard, PocketBase gives you the power to set up a complete backend in minutes. You can start small, expand as needed, and deploy anywhere – while keeping your workflow simple and efficient.
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