# Teable — No-Code Postgres Spreadsheet Database

> Teable is an open-source Airtable alternative built on PostgreSQL. Spreadsheet UI with real-time collaboration, API access, and no-code app building capabilities.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

```bash
git clone https://github.com/teableio/teable.git
cd teable
docker compose up -d
```

Open `http://localhost:3000` — create your first base and start organizing data.

## Intro

**Teable** is an open-source, no-code database platform that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the power of PostgreSQL. It serves as a self-hosted Airtable alternative, letting teams build apps, manage data, and collaborate in real-time — all without writing code, while keeping data in a standard PostgreSQL database.

With 21.1K+ GitHub stars, Teable stands out by using PostgreSQL as its storage engine, meaning your data is always accessible via standard SQL and never locked into a proprietary format.

## What Teable Does

Teable provides a powerful data management experience:

- **Spreadsheet Interface**: Familiar grid view with sorting, filtering, grouping, and conditional formatting
- **Multiple Views**: Grid, Kanban, Gallery, Form, and Calendar views for the same data
- **Real-time Collaboration**: Multiple users editing simultaneously with live updates
- **Field Types**: 20+ field types including text, number, date, attachment, link, formula, rollup, lookup, and rating
- **API Access**: Auto-generated REST API for every table with full CRUD operations
- **Automations**: Trigger-action workflows for notifications, data sync, and integrations
- **Forms**: Public forms for data collection with customizable layouts
- **PostgreSQL Native**: All data stored in standard PostgreSQL tables, accessible via SQL

## Architecture

```
┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐
│  Next.js     │────▶│  NestJS      │────▶│  PostgreSQL  │
│  Frontend    │     │  Backend     │     │  (Your Data) │
└──────────────┘     └──────┬───────┘     └──────────────┘
                            │
                     ┌──────┴───────┐
                     │  Redis       │
                     │  (Realtime)  │
                     └──────────────┘
```

## Self-Hosting

### Docker Compose

```yaml
services:
  teable:
    image: ghcr.io/teableio/teable:latest
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      PRISMA_DATABASE_URL: postgresql://teable:teable@postgres:5432/teable
      BACKEND_CACHE_PROVIDER: redis
      BACKEND_CACHE_REDIS_URI: redis://redis:6379/0
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis

  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: teable
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: teable
      POSTGRES_DB: teable
    volumes:
      - pg-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine

volumes:
  pg-data:
```

## Key Features

### PostgreSQL Native

Unlike Airtable, all Teable data lives in standard PostgreSQL:

```sql
-- Your Teable data is just PostgreSQL tables
SELECT * FROM tbl_customers WHERE status = 'active' ORDER BY created_at DESC;

-- Join across tables
SELECT c.name, COUNT(o.id) as order_count
FROM tbl_customers c
JOIN tbl_orders o ON o.customer_id = c.id
GROUP BY c.name;
```

This means you can:
- Query data with any SQL client or BI tool
- Connect Metabase, Grafana, or Tableau directly
- Use pg_dump for backups
- Write custom reports with raw SQL

### Formula Fields

```
// Basic formulas
{Total} = {Price} * {Quantity}
{Full Name} = CONCATENATE({First Name}, " ", {Last Name})
{Days Until Due} = DATETIME_DIFF({Due Date}, NOW(), 'days')

// Conditional
{Status} = IF({Progress} >= 100, "Done", IF({Progress} > 0, "In Progress", "Not Started"))
```

### Auto-Generated API

Every table gets a REST API automatically:

```bash
# List records
curl http://localhost:3000/api/table/{tableId}/record 
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"

# Create record
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/table/{tableId}/record 
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" 
  -d '{"fields": {"Name": "John", "Email": "john@example.com"}}'
```

## Teable vs Alternatives

| Feature | Teable | Airtable | NocoDB | Baserow |
|---------|--------|----------|--------|---------|
| Open Source | Yes | No | Yes (AGPL) | Yes (MIT) |
| Database | PostgreSQL | Proprietary | MySQL/PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL |
| SQL Access | Direct | No | Limited | Limited |
| Real-time | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Row limit | Unlimited | 125K/base | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pricing | Free (self-host) | $20/seat/mo | Free (self-host) | Free (self-host) |

## FAQ

**Q: Is Teable data really standard PostgreSQL?**
A: Yes. Each Teable table maps to a PostgreSQL table; fields map to PostgreSQL columns. You can query and manipulate the data with any PostgreSQL tool directly.

**Q: Can I connect to an existing PostgreSQL database?**
A: Yes. Teable can connect to an external PostgreSQL database and map existing tables as Teable views — no data migration needed.

**Q: How's the performance for large datasets?**
A: Because PostgreSQL is underneath, Teable handles millions of rows. For large tables, add appropriate indexes to maintain query performance.

## Source & Thanks

- GitHub: [teableio/teable](https://github.com/teableio/teable) — 21.1K+ ⭐
- Website: [teable.io](https://teable.io)

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/teable-no-code-postgres-spreadsheet-database-f3c74d7b
Author: Script Depot