NocoDB is an open-source, self-hostable platform that transforms relational databases into intuitive, spreadsheet-like interfaces similar to Airtable. It enables users without coding expertise to create, manage, and share databases through a visual interface while exposing full REST APIs and programmatic access. Designed for teams and businesses seeking to avoid vendor lock-in and data silos, NocoDB supports PostgreSQL and SQLite as backends and provides enterprise-grade features like role-based access control, view permissions, and workflow automations—all without requiring cloud dependency. It’s ideal for developers, product teams, and non-technical users who need to build internal tools, manage project data, or automate workflows using familiar spreadsheet paradigms.
Unlike SaaS alternatives that impose usage limits, pricing tiers, or data restrictions, NocoDB gives complete control over your data and infrastructure. Whether you’re running it on a local machine, a VPS, or in a production environment with Docker Compose, NocoDB ensures data sovereignty while delivering the usability of Airtable. Its modular architecture supports extensibility through an App Store for integrations and SDKs for custom automation.
What You Get
- Rich Spreadsheet Interface - Provides a fully functional spreadsheet UI with grid, gallery, form, kanban, and calendar views; supports advanced field types like lookup, rollup, formula, attachment, and currency with sorting, filtering, column hiding, and group-by functionality.
- View Permissions & Sharing - Allows granular control over who can view or edit specific views, with options for public sharing and password-protected access to databases or individual views.
- Built-in REST API & SDK - Automatically generates a Swagger-documented RESTful API for every table and supports programmatic access via NocoDB SDK using JWT or social auth tokens for custom integrations.
- App Store for Automations - Offers pre-built integrations for Slack, Discord, SMTP, AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Minio to trigger actions based on database events without writing code.
- Role-Based Access Control - Enables fine-grained permissions at the database, table, and row level to define who can create, read, update, or delete data across different teams or projects.
- Self-Hosted with Multiple Backends - Supports both SQLite for quick local use and PostgreSQL for production deployments, ensuring data ownership and avoiding third-party vendor lock-in.
Common Use Cases
- Building an internal project tracker - A product team uses NocoDB to create a collaborative Kanban board linked to their PostgreSQL database, allowing engineers and designers to update task statuses visually while maintaining a clean backend.
- Creating a client onboarding portal with attachments - A consulting firm sets up a NocoDB base to collect client documents via form uploads, automatically syncs them to Minio storage, and triggers Slack notifications when new submissions arrive.
- Problem: Inflexible SaaS tools → Solution: NocoDB - Teams tired of Airtable’s pricing hikes and data export restrictions migrate to self-hosted NocoDB, gaining full control over their data while retaining the same user-friendly interface and API access.
- DevOps teams managing customer configurations - Operations engineers use NocoDB to manage dynamic client configs stored in PostgreSQL, exposing them via REST API for internal microservices while granting non-technical staff read-only access to specific views.
Under The Hood
NocoDB is a low-code platform that merges database management with a rich, extensible graphical user interface, enabling rapid application development without traditional coding constraints. It leverages a monorepo structure to support modular frontend and backend components, emphasizing component-based architecture and clear separation of concerns.
Architecture
NocoDB adopts a modular monorepo design that supports scalable frontend and backend development. The architecture emphasizes component composition, dependency injection, and well-defined module boundaries.
- Clear separation of concerns between GUI, integrations, and core data layers
- Component-based frontend architecture with reusable UI elements
- Use of design patterns such as dependency injection and service composition
- Modular backend structure supporting extensibility and diverse data sources
Tech Stack
The platform is built using modern web technologies with a strong emphasis on developer experience and scalability.
- TypeScript and Vue 3 with Nuxt.js for enhanced SSR and UI development
- NestJS backend framework and Knex.js for database abstraction
- Extensive use of Ant Design Vue components and PostgreSQL/MySQL integration
- Vite, WindiCSS, pnpm, and Husky for modern frontend tooling and workflow automation
Code Quality
NocoDB maintains a mature codebase with strong testing practices and consistent error handling.
- Comprehensive test coverage across multiple modules including end-to-end and unit tests
- Consistent use of try/catch blocks and standardized error handling patterns
- Strong linting and formatting practices with Husky and lint-staged integration
- Code organization reflects good structure, though some technical debt exists in duplication and framework reliance
What Makes It Unique
NocoDB distinguishes itself through its unique fusion of database management and GUI-based application building.
- Combines powerful backend data handling with highly customizable frontend components
- Offers deep integration capabilities and extensible architecture for diverse data sources
- Enables low-code development while maintaining flexibility for advanced customization
- Blends traditional database workflows with modern UI frameworks for streamlined development