NocoBase is an open-source, AI-enhanced no-code and low-code platform designed for teams that need to build custom business applications without relying on lengthy development cycles. It targets product managers, operations teams, and developers who want to create internal tools, CRM systems, ERP modules, or project management dashboards with the flexibility of custom code and the ease of visual editing. Unlike traditional no-code tools limited to pre-built forms and tables, NocoBase uses a data model-driven approach that decouples data structure from user interface, enabling complex workflows and dynamic UIs while maintaining simplicity for non-technical users. Its plugin-based architecture ensures that every feature — from data sources to AI agents — is modular and extendable, making it ideal for organizations seeking full ownership of their applications without vendor lock-in.
What You Get
- Data model-driven architecture - Separates data structure from UI, allowing unlimited custom blocks and actions per table; supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, external databases, and third-party APIs as data sources.
- Integrated AI employees - Embed AI agents (translator, analyst, researcher) directly into interfaces and workflows with configurable prompts, context-aware responses, and secure, transparent execution.
- WYSIWYG visual builder - One-click toggle between usage and configuration mode; design pages as canvases with drag-and-drop blocks similar to Notion, optimized for non-developers.
- Plugin-based extensibility - Every feature is a plugin (pages, blocks, APIs, data sources); install pre-built plugins or create custom ones using TypeScript/JavaScript with full access to the core API.
- Self-hosted deployment - Full control over data and infrastructure with Docker, CLI, or source code installation options — no cloud dependency required.
Common Use Cases
- Building a custom CRM with AI-powered lead scoring - Sales teams use NocoBase to create a CRM that pulls data from external APIs, applies AI employees to analyze lead intent, and auto-generates follow-up tasks in the UI without writing backend code.
- Creating a multi-department internal tool for ERP workflows - Operations teams build a unified dashboard connecting inventory, procurement, and HR data via plugins, enabling cross-functional approval workflows with visual form builders.
- Problem → Solution flow: Need a custom admin panel but lack dev resources - A startup needs a dashboard to manage users and content but can’t afford a full engineering team; they use NocoBase’s visual builder to create an admin interface in hours using pre-built blocks and plugins.
- Team/workflow scenario: DevOps teams managing microservices with custom monitoring dashboards - Engineers deploy NocoBase to visualize service health metrics from Prometheus and create editable views for on-call teams, extending functionality with custom plugins to integrate internal APIs.
Under The Hood
NocoBase is a modular, extensible backend framework tailored for building customizable low-code platforms. It emphasizes plugin-driven development and flexible data management through a well-structured monorepo architecture.
Architecture
NocoBase adopts a layered application structure with strong emphasis on modularity and plugin extensibility. The system is built around core components and a rich ecosystem of plugins that enable flexible customization.
- Uses strategy-based access control and middleware composition for flexible runtime behavior
- Organized into distinct modules with clear separation of concerns across backend and frontend
- Implements a plugin-driven architecture that supports runtime configuration and composition
Tech Stack
Built with TypeScript and leveraging modern JavaScript frameworks, NocoBase integrates a comprehensive set of tools for development and deployment.
- Developed primarily in TypeScript with React for frontend and Node.js for backend
- Relies on a rich ecosystem including @formily, antd, and react-router-dom for UI components
- Employs Vite for development and testing, with Vitest and Playwright for robust test coverage
- Utilizes linting and formatting configurations to maintain code consistency and quality standards
Code Quality
Code quality in NocoBase reflects a mature approach to testing and error handling, though some technical debt remains.
- Comprehensive test suite covers key functionalities with Vitest and Playwright for unit and end-to-end testing
- Error handling is consistently applied across modules using standard try/catch patterns
- Style and naming conventions are mostly consistent, though some duplication and redundancy exist in configuration
- Linting and type safety practices are well-integrated into the development workflow
What Makes It Unique
NocoBase distinguishes itself through its plugin-driven architecture and rich resource management capabilities.
- Combines modular design with robust ACL and resource management for flexible data-driven applications
- Offers runtime plugin composition that enables dynamic feature extension without code recompilation
- Provides a unique blend of low-code extensibility and backend flexibility that sets it apart from conventional frameworks