Typebase – A single-folder back end you write in TypeScript

Hey HN!I built Typebase, a library that gives you Convex's DX with Supabase's openness.After trying Supabase I liked how fast it is to spin up a DB and auth, but really didn't like using RLS and SQL for authorization. With Convex I loved how your server "lives" in your code, but disliked the DB model and the realtime-first defaults.With Typebase you just write TS files inside a typebase/ folder in your existing repo. You can define your DB tables inside a schema.ts file and export server functions that your frontend calls like local functions, fully typed. Auth is built in.Then one CLI command uploads your server to any of the available providers (Vercel, Cloudflare Workers or Deno Deploy for the servera and Neon for the DB), or generates the code so you can deploy it wherever you want.Built on top of oRPC, Drizzle, and better-auth.Happy to answer any questions or feedback!

Hacker NewsToolAISource
0Sign in to voteCopy link

FL score

72

out of 100

Verdict

VALIDATE

high confidence

Competition

No competitor data yet

Trend

No signal yet

TypeScript-first backend framework that lets developers write server code in their repo folder and deploy to multiple providers without learning SQL or RLS.

The pain

Developers choose between two bad options: Convex (great DX, proprietary DB, realtime overhead) or Supabase (open, fast setup, but forces SQL and RLS for auth logic). Neither lets you write authorization in the language you already know.

The gap

No framework currently offers the combination of: (1) TypeScript-only backend code, (2) standard relational DB underneath, (3) built-in auth, (4) multi-provider deployment, and (5) local function-like frontend calls with full typing.

Build angle

Start by validating with 20-30 developers building side projects or early-stage startups. Focus on the specific friction point: how much time do they spend writing SQL and RLS policies vs. business logic? Measure if Typebase cuts that by 50%+. Then expand to teams choosing between Convex and Supabase.

Strengths

  • Solves a real positioning gap between Convex and Supabase that both acknowledge
  • Built on proven open-source foundations (Drizzle, better-auth, oRPC) rather than inventing primitives
  • Multi-provider deployment removes vendor lock-in, a genuine differentiator
  • Targets developers already comfortable with TypeScript, lowering adoption friction
  • Founder clearly understands the problem space and competitive landscape

Risks

  • Market size unclear: how many developers actually reject Convex for DB reasons vs. cost or other factors?
  • Execution risk on multi-provider deployment, each provider has different constraints; maintaining parity is hard
  • Drizzle and better-auth are still evolving; Typebase becomes a thin wrapper that adds little value if those libraries mature
  • No evidence of traction yet; HN post alone doesn't validate demand
  • Competing against well-funded, established platforms (Convex raised $20M+) with brand recognition
  • Pricing model not mentioned; unclear how this monetizes if it's open-source

Questions about this idea?

FlyBot reads the scoring and gives you a second opinion on “Typebase – A single-folder back end you write in TypeScript”.

Open FlyBot