Supabase: The Open Source Firebase Alternative

Table of Contents
Introduction
Setup
- Prerequisites
- Steps
Tutorial with an Example Project
- Example Project: Todo List Application
- Steps
Features and Links
List of Projects to Do Using Supabase
List of Projects That Use Supabase
Making the Best of Supabase
Conclusion

Introduction

Supabase is an open-source Firebase alternative that provides a suite of tools for building scalable applications without the need to write a backend. It leverages PostgreSQL for real-time databases, offers authentication, and file storage capabilities. Supabase aims to democratize backend development by providing a modern, scalable, and open-source platform.

Setup

Prerequisites

Node.js installed on your computer.
A web browser.
A text editor or IDE like VSCode.

Steps

Sign Up for Supabase
- Visit Supabase and sign up for a free account.
- Once logged in, create a new project.
Create a New Project
- In the Supabase dashboard, click on "New Project".
- Provide a name for your project, choose a database password, and select a region.

Supabase Dashboard - Create New Project

Configure Your Database
- After creating the project, you’ll be directed to the project’s overview page.
- Note down the API URL and the API key, as you’ll need these for your frontend application.

Tutorial with an Example Project

Example Project: Todo List Application

In this tutorial, we'll build a simple Todo List application using Supabase and React.

Steps

Initialize a React Application
- Open your terminal and run the following command to create a new React application:
terminal
Copy code
npx create-react-app supabase-todo cd supabase-todo
Install Supabase Client
- Inside your React project directory, install the Supabase client:
terminal
Copy code
npm install @supabase/supabase-js

Set Up Supabase Client

Create a new file named supabaseClient.js in the src directory and add the following code:

supabaseClient.js

Copy code

import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = 'https://your-supabase-url.supabase.co';
const supabaseKey = 'your-anon-key';

export const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

Create a Database Table

In the Supabase dashboard, go to the SQL editor and run the following SQL to create a todos table:

createTable.sql

Copy code

create table todos (
  id bigint generated by default as identity primary key,
  task text not null,
  is_complete boolean default false
);

Fetch Todos from Supabase

In your App.js file, import Supabase and fetch the todos:

App.js

Copy code

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { supabase } from './supabaseClient';

function App() {
  const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetchTodos();
  }, []);

  const fetchTodos = async () => {
    let { data: todos, error } = await supabase
      .from('todos')
      .select('*');
    if (error) console.log('Error:', error);
    else setTodos(todos);
  };

  return (
    <div className="App">
      <h1>Todo List</h1>
      <ul>
        {todos.map(todo => (
          <li key={todo.id}>{todo.task}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

Add a New Todo

Add a form to your App.js to allow adding new todos:

App.js

Copy code

function App() {
  const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]);
  const [task, setTask] = useState('');

  useEffect(() => {
    fetchTodos();
  }, []);

  const fetchTodos = async () => {
    let { data: todos, error } = await supabase
      .from('todos')
      .select('*');
    if (error) console.log('Error:', error);
    else setTodos(todos);
  };

  const addTodo = async (task) => {
    let { data: todo, error } = await supabase
      .from('todos')
      .insert([{ task }]);
    if (error) console.log('Error:', error);
    else fetchTodos();
  };

  return (
    <div className="App">
      <h1>Todo List</h1>
      <form onSubmit={(e) => {
        e.preventDefault();
        addTodo(task);
        setTask('');
      }}>
        <input
          type="text"
          value={task}
          onChange={(e) => setTask(e.target.value)}
          placeholder="Add a new task"
        />
        <button type="submit">Add</button>
      </form>
      <ul>
        {todos.map(todo => (
          <li key={todo.id}>{todo.task}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

Supabase Todo List App

Features and Links

Supabase offers various features including:

Real-Time Database: Based on PostgreSQL with real-time capabilities.
Authentication: Support for multiple authentication methods.
File Storage: Secure storage for large files.
API Generation: Automatic RESTful API generation.

For more detailed information and guides, visit the Supabase documentation.

List of Projects to Do Using Supabase

Chat Application: Real-time messaging with user authentication.
E-commerce Platform: Product listings, user accounts, and real-time inventory management.
Project Management Tool: Collaborative project management with real-time updates.
Social Media App: User profiles, posts, and comments with real-time interactions.

List of Projects That Use Supabase

Making the Best of Supabase

Utilize Real-Time Features: Leverage real-time capabilities for interactive applications.
Secure Authentication: Implement robust user authentication and authorization workflows.
Explore Supabase Community: Engage with the community for support, ideas, and collaboration.
Stay Updated: Keep an eye on new features and updates from the Supabase team.

Conclusion

Supabase is a powerful and open-source alternative to Firebase, offering real-time databases, authentication, and file storage with the robustness of PostgreSQL. Its ease of integration, scalability, and cost-effective pricing make it an excellent choice for modern application development.

By following this guide, you can quickly get started with Supabase and build a variety of applications efficiently. Explore the Supabase ecosystem and leverage its capabilities to create innovative and responsive applications.

Supabase: The Open Source Firebase Alternative

Table of Contents

Introduction

Setup

Prerequisites

Steps

Tutorial with an Example Project

Example Project: Todo List Application

Steps

Features and Links

List of Projects to Do Using Supabase

List of Projects That Use Supabase

Making the Best of Supabase

Conclusion

Products

Developers

Resources

Company