InstantDB – A Modern Firebase
Hey there HN! We’re Joe and Stopa, and today we’re open sourcing InstantDB, a client-side database that makes it easy to build real-time and collaborative apps like Notion and Figma. Building modern apps these days involves a lot of schleps. For a basic CRUD app you need to spin up servers, wire up endpoints, integrate auth, add permissions, and then marshal data from the backend to the frontend and back again. If you want to deliver a buttery smooth user experience, you’ll need to add optimistic updates and rollbacks. We do these steps over and over for every feature we build, which can…
InstantDB – A Modern Firebase launched on August 22, 2024 with 1,145 votes, #6 of 5,471 launches that month and more than 99% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 2 years on.
In plain words
InstantDB is an open-source client-side database designed to simplify building real-time and collaborative applications. It eliminates common development tasks like server setup, authentication, permissions, and data synchronization between frontend and backend. The tool is built for developers creating modern apps that require smooth user experiences with optimistic updates. InstantDB targets developers seeking to reduce complexity in application development by handling database concerns directly on the client side.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Instant is the best backend for AI-coded apps. You get auth, permissions, storage, presence, and streams — everything you need to ship apps your users will love. - instantdb/instant
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hey there HN! We’re Joe and Stopa, and today we’re open sourcing InstantDB, a client-side database that makes it easy to build real-time and collaborative apps like Notion and Figma. Building modern apps these days involves a lot of schleps. For a basic CRUD app you need to spin up servers, wire up endpoints…
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