Supabase — Database

Open-source backend platform based on PostgreSQL (Firebase alternative)

Basic Information

What is this program?

Supabase is a backend platform centered on a PostgreSQL database that also provides authentication, auto-generated REST APIs, real-time subscriptions, and file storage. You can build an application backend quickly like Firebase, while your data stays in standard PostgreSQL.

You can use it in two ways: as a cloud service or self-hosted (docker compose). It suits organizations that need to own and control their data directly, or teams that want to leverage existing Postgres operational experience.

What problems does it solve?

• Situations where you need to set up a backend quickly for an early-stage application
• Situations where you want to manage data in standard PostgreSQL instead of Firebase
• Situations where you need to self-host authentication, API, and real-time features without building them separately

Key Features

PostgreSQL Database

Provides a fully functional Postgres instance

• Use case: Use standard SQL and existing tools as-is
• What you get: Extensions can be installed
• Limitations: Having Postgres operational knowledge is beneficial

Automatic API

Automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs from the schema

• Use case: Immediately manipulate data from the frontend
• What you get: Minimizes backend CRUD code
• Limitations: Careful permission design for automatic APIs is required

Authentication

Built-in authentication such as email, social login, OTP, etc.

• Use case: Quickly build login functionality
• What you get: JWT-based session management
• Limitations: Security policy configuration is required

Real-time and Storage

Provides data change subscriptions and file storage

• Use case: Real-time features such as chat and notifications
• What you get: Leverage Postgres Changes
• Limitations: Large-scale traffic requires separate design

Installation and Setup

Cloud (recommended starting point)

Create a project on the website to start immediately.

https://supabase.com/dashboard

Self-hosting (Docker)

Deploy to your own server using the official docker compose configuration.

git clone https://github.com/supabase/supabase && cd supabase/docker && docker compose up -d

CLI

Run a local development environment identical to self-hosting.

supabase init && supabase start

Real-world Usage Examples

Create a Project

Create a project in the dashboard and check the DB connection information.

Dashboard > New Project

Create a Table

Create the schema using the SQL editor or table editor.

SQL: create table profiles(id uuid primary key);

Connect a Client

Connect authentication and DB access with the frontend SDK.

npm install @supabase/supabase-js

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Apache-2.0 open source, self-hostable
• Data stays in standard PostgreSQL, ensuring portability
• Provides authentication, API, real-time, and storage in one package
• Choice of cloud or self-hosting

Things to Consider Before Use

• Risk of data exposure if automatic API permissions are not configured properly
• Self-hosting has many components, creating operational burden
• Large-scale traffic requires separate scaling design

Comparison with Similar Programs

Official Resources and Further Learning

• Official Website — https://supabase.com/
• Official Documentation / Knowledge Base — https://supabase.com/docs
• Official Download — https://supabase.com/docs/guides/getting-started
• Release Notes — https://supabase.com/changelog
• Source / Development Resources — https://github.com/supabase/supabase

Version and supported environment information was confirmed on the official site as of 2026-10-18. Installation commands may vary depending on your distribution and version, so please also check the official installation documentation.

Actual Execution Screen

Synthetic example — not an actual execution result. The screenshot is a synthetic example and not an actual execution result.

!Example of starting the Supabase local development environment

Server in actual operation

Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/apps/databases/supabase.html This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.