PocketBase — Backend in One File for AI Apps

What it is

PocketBase is an open-source backend written in Go that packages a SQLite database, user authentication, file storage, and a real-time admin dashboard into a single executable file. You download one binary, run it, and get a fully functional backend with REST and real-time APIs.

It targets indie developers, AI app builders, and small teams who need a backend fast without managing separate database servers, auth providers, and file storage services. It works well as a backend for AI-powered apps, chatbots, and prototypes.

How it saves time or tokens

PocketBase eliminates infrastructure setup. Instead of configuring a database server, setting up an auth service, and wiring file uploads, you run one command and start building your frontend or AI logic. The admin UI lets you create collections (tables), define fields, and manage records visually. For AI apps, this means you can store conversation logs, user data, and model outputs without writing backend code.

How to use

1. Download and start PocketBase:

# Download for your platform from GitHub releases
wget https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/releases/latest/download/pocketbase_0.25_linux_amd64.zip
unzip pocketbase_0.25_linux_amd64.zip
./pocketbase serve

1. Open the admin UI at http://127.0.0.1:8090/_/ and create your first collection.

1. Use the REST API from your app:

# Create a record
curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8090/api/collections/messages/records \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"text": "Hello from AI", "role": "assistant"}'

Example

// Using PocketBase JavaScript SDK
import PocketBase from 'pocketbase';

const pb = new PocketBase('http://127.0.0.1:8090');

// Authenticate a user
await pb.collection('users').authWithPassword('user@example.com', 'password');

// Store an AI conversation
await pb.collection('conversations').create({
  user_id: pb.authStore.model.id,
  prompt: 'Explain recursion',
  response: 'Recursion is when a function calls itself...',
  model: 'claude-sonnet',
  tokens_used: 245
});

// Query with filters
const recent = await pb.collection('conversations').getList(1, 10, {
  sort: '-created',
  filter: 'tokens_used > 100'
});

Related on TokRepo

• AI tools for databases -- Backend and database tools for AI applications
• Self-hosted tools -- Self-hostable infrastructure for AI

Common pitfalls

• PocketBase uses SQLite, which handles reads well but has write concurrency limits. For apps with heavy concurrent writes, consider PostgreSQL-backed alternatives.
• Scaling beyond a single server requires manual replication. PocketBase is designed for single-instance deployment, not horizontal scaling.
• File storage is local by default. For production, configure S3-compatible storage to avoid data loss if the server disk fails.