PocketBase
PocketBase — single-file backend with SQLite, auth, and realtime subscriptions.
Stack Components
Why
One binary, no dependencies, built-in admin UI, auth, and realtime — zero config. Node.js, Go, and Python are the top 3 backend languages (Stack Overflow 2024).
Go's goroutines handle 100k+ concurrent connections per process; Node's event loop excels at I/O-bound workloads.
When
Use for small projects, prototypes, and self-hosted backends. Avoid for enterprise scale.
How
Example
Common Problems
- ⚠SQLite WAL mode concurrent writes — use single writer pattern
- ⚠File size limit on cloud — use external SQLite or migrate
- ⚠Configuration drift between environments — use infrastructure-as-code (Terraform/Pulumi) to keep dev/staging/prod identical
Best Practices
- ✓Use migration files for schema versioning
- ✓Enable realtime only for collections that need it
- ✓Set up health checks and graceful shutdown — handle SIGTERM to drain in-flight requests before exit
FAQ
What is PocketBase and what projects is it for?
PocketBase — single-file backend with SQLite, auth, and realtime subscriptions. It pairs layered technologies for end-to-end type safety and out-of-the-box deploys, fitting everything from MVPs to production SaaS.
How do I spin up a working demo with PocketBase in 10 minutes?
Two steps: (1) Download pocketbase binary; (2) ./pocketbase serve. Get the local dev server running, then wire one real data source to verify the end-to-end loop.
What is the most common pitfall with PocketBase and how do I avoid it?
The most common pitfall is: SQLite WAL mode concurrent writes — use single writer pattern. Avoid it by adding the matching checklist to your PR template and running type-check + lint + unit tests in CI — three gates before merge.
What are the best practices for PocketBase?
Best practices for PocketBase include: Use migration files for schema versioning; Enable realtime only for collections that need it; Set up health checks and graceful shutdown — handle SIGTERM to drain in-flight requests before exit. The first one — "Use migration files for schema versioning" — should be set up at project init to avoid costly rework later.
When should I NOT choose PocketBase?
Pick something else in three cases: (1) the team has zero experience with the core framework and the deadline is tight (learning-curve risk); (2) it's a pure content/marketing site (Astro is lighter); (3) you need very high throughput (>10k RPS) or strict-consistency microservices (Go/Rust). PocketBase shines for mid-to-high complexity full-stack and API work — don't over-engineer simple static pages with it.