Getting Started with Kolaybase: A PostgreSQL Backend in Minutes

Building a backend usually means wiring together a database, an auth layer, file storage, and an API — before you write a single line of product code. Kolaybase collapses that setup into a few minutes. This guide takes you from an empty project to your first authenticated query.

What you get out of the box

Every Kolaybase project ships with:

• A dedicated PostgreSQL 16 database — not a shared schema, a real database.
• Authentication backed by Keycloak (email + OAuth).
• S3-compatible object storage for files.
• An auto-generated REST API with PostgREST-style filtering.

1. Install the CLI

npm install -g kolaybase-cli
kb login

The CLI authenticates against your account and becomes the fastest way to create projects, run migrations, and open a SQL console.

2. Create a project

kb projects create my-app

Behind the scenes this provisions a PostgreSQL database and an auth realm scoped to my-app. Nothing is shared with your other projects.

3. Define a table

Open the SQL editor (kb sql my-app) and create a table:

create table todos (
  id bigint generated always as identity primary key,
  title text not null,
  done boolean not null default false,
  created_at timestamptz not null default now()
);

The moment the table exists, it's queryable over REST — no extra deployment step.

4. Query from your app

Install the SDK and read your data:

import { createClient } from "kolaybase-js";

const kb = createClient({
  projectId: process.env.KOLAYBASE_PROJECT_ID!,
  apiKey: process.env.KOLAYBASE_ANON_KEY!,
});

const { data, error } = await kb
  .from("todos")
  .select("*")
  .eq("done", false)
  .order("created_at", { ascending: false });

That's a fully working backend: a real database, a typed client, and an API you never had to build.

Where to go next

• Add authentication so each user sees only their own rows.
• Read the REST API reference for filtering, pagination, and embedding related tables.
• Compare Kolaybase to building your own backend.

Ship the product, not the plumbing.