edge: the most modular, extensible and open-source Firebase alternative
Backend on Kubernetes leveraging PostgreSQL ecosystem
edge is a Kubernetes operator that, among other tasks, manages and integrates a set of open-source tools for Identity and Access Management (IAM), Storage, API Gateway, GraphQL, Realtime, Search and more in enterprise-grade backend for web and mobile apps.
Motivation
- Existing CMSs are purpose-built and are unsuitable for custom use-cases.
- Need for a Kubernetes-native BaaS on a stack of modular, open-source and reliable software.
Usecases
- Rapid MVPs that could effortlessly scale to millions of users
- Lowcode, custom Content Management Systems (CMS), e.g. for e-commerce, forums, etc.
- IoT (realtime): TimescaleDB + PostGIS + MQTT(WebSocket) + Kafka
- AI/ML (search / recommendation): pgvector
edge Stack (100% open-source)
| Component | Technology Used | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Kubernetes | Provides a container orchestration system ensuring no vendor lock-in. |
| Databases | PostgreSQL | The world's most advanced open source database. CockroachDB will be supported too |
| Authn/Authz (IAM) | ZITADEL + Postgres RLS | Offers comprehensive authentication and authorization through ZITADEL, with additional support from PostgreSQL Row-Level Security. |
| REST API | PostgREST | REST API for any Postgres database |
| Object Storage | MinIO | Offers high-performance, Kubernetes-native object storage. |
| API Gateway | Istio/Envoy + cert-manager | Manages, secures, and monitors traffic between microservices as well as from and to the Internet |
| GraphQL | Hasura | Provides a powerful GraphQL API layer over databases. |
| Realtime | LISTEN+NOTIFY, logical replication <<pipeline>> Kafka. MQTT(WebSocket) | Facilitates real-time data processing and messaging through various technologies. |
| Search | pgvector | Enhances search capabilities using pgvector |
| Serverless | Knative | Supports building and deploying serverless applications and functions. |
| Observe | Prometheus + Grafana + Grafana Loki | Provides a robust monitoring, logging and alerting system. |