nocobase/nocobase - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/nocobase/nocobase
Stars: 15,466 (as of November 2023)

NocoBase is a rapidly growing open-source project that enables businesses and developers to build powerful applications without extensive coding knowledge. With over 15K stars on GitHub, it has gained significant traction in the no-code/low-code space.

2. Project Description#

NocoBase is an extensibility-first, open-source no-code/low-code platform designed for creating business applications and enterprise solutions. It allows users to:
✔ Build custom applications with minimal coding
✔ Automate workflows and business processes
✔ Manage data with a flexible database structure
✔ Deploy self-hosted solutions for full control

Unlike many proprietary no-code tools, NocoBase is open-source, meaning you can modify and extend it freely without vendor lock-in.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

NocoBase competes with several commercial and open-source alternatives, including:

Airtable (for database and automation)
Retool (for internal tool building)
Appsmith (open-source alternative for business apps)
OutSystems/Mendix (enterprise low-code platforms)

Unlike these tools, NocoBase is fully self-hostable and extensible without licensing fees.

4. Core Functionality#

Key Features#

No-Code/Low-Code Builder – Drag-and-drop interface for creating forms, tables, and dashboards.
Extensible Plugins – Add custom functionality via plugins (REST APIs, automation, etc.).
Role-Based Access Control – Fine-grained permissions for teams.
Database Management – Supports PostgreSQL and SQLite with schema customization.
Workflow Automation – Define business logic without coding.
Self-Hosted Deployment – Full control over data and infrastructure.

5. Pros and Cons#

✅ Pros#

✔ Open-source & free – No vendor lock-in or subscription fees.
✔ Highly extensible – Developers can add custom plugins.
✔ Self-hostable – Ideal for privacy-conscious businesses.
✔ Active community – Growing GitHub presence with regular updates.

❌ Cons#

✖ Steeper learning curve than some commercial no-code tools.
✖ Limited third-party integrations compared to Airtable or Retool.
✖ Requires technical knowledge for self-hosting.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-Host on Ubuntu)#

NocoBase can be deployed using Docker for easy setup.

Prerequisites:#

Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 (or any Linux distro with Docker)
Docker & Docker Compose installed
2GB+ RAM (4GB recommended for production)

Step-by-Step Setup:#

1. Install Docker & Docker Compose#

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# Install Docker
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sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io
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sudo systemctl enable --now docker
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# Install Docker Compose
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sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
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sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

2. Clone NocoBase Repository#

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git clone https://github.com/nocobase/nocobase.git
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cd nocobase

3. Configure Environment#

Create a .env file:

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cp .env.example .env

Edit .env to set:

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DB_DIALECT=postgres
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DB_HOST=postgres
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DB_PORT=5432
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DB_DATABASE=nocobase
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DB_USER=nocobase
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DB_PASSWORD=your_secure_password

4. Start NocoBase with Docker Compose#

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docker-compose up -d

5. Access the Application#

Once running, open http://your-server-ip:13000 in a browser.

6. (Optional) Set Up Nginx Reverse Proxy#

For production, use Nginx to enable HTTPS:

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server {
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    listen 80;
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    server_name yourdomain.com;
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    location / {
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        proxy_pass http://localhost:13000;
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        proxy_set_header Host $host;
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    }
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}

Then, secure with Let’s Encrypt:

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sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
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sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

Conclusion#

NocoBase is a powerful open-source alternative to commercial no-code platforms, offering flexibility and control for businesses. While it requires some technical setup, its extensibility makes it ideal for custom solutions.

🔗 Get Started: NocoBase GitHub