App Starter
PocketBase-backed production systems with auth, roles, and real data — delivered fast, built to last.
What It Is
An App Starter is a real application — not just a website. It has a backend, user accounts with login, data that persists, and role-based access. Think CRUD dashboards, admin panels, internal tools, MVPs, and booking systems.
PocketBase provides authentication, storage, and real-time features in a lightweight package, allowing faster delivery and lower infrastructure requirements. Combined with a Vue or React frontend, you get a production-ready system that works.
Who It's For
Internal teams that need a custom tool for data entry, tracking, or reporting. Small businesses building an MVP to validate a product idea. Solo founders who need a working app before they raise funding or scale. Workshops, clinics, and service businesses that need booking, scheduling, or client management tools.
What's Included
- PocketBase backend with SQLite
- Vue 3 or React frontend with responsive design
- User authentication (email/password, optional OAuth2)
- Role-based access control (admin, user, viewer)
- CRUD operations with collection/schema design
- Real-time data updates (PocketBase subscriptions)
- Docker + Nginx deployment included
- Admin panel setup
What's Not Included
- Multi-tenant architecture (goes into Business Systems tier)
- Complex business logic or workflow engines
- Payment processing or billing integration
- Third-party API integrations (CRM, ERP, etc.)
- Advanced reporting or analytics dashboards
- Full CI/CD pipeline setup
What You're Actually Paying For
You're not paying for pages or dashboards. You're paying for a working system with authentication, data integrity, and deployment. You're paying for:
- System design — the right data model, the right schema, the right roles from day one
- Backend architecture that handles auth, real-time, and storage without glue code
- A frontend your team will actually use — clean, responsive, built for the workflow
- Production deployment — Docker, Nginx, SSL, domain, live and monitored (initial setup; ongoing hosting billed separately)
- Delivery speed — PocketBase eliminates months of backend boilerplate so you get to production faster
How We Work
Discovery & Architecture
Map your data model, user roles, and core workflows. Design the PocketBase collections and define the API surface. Lock the architecture before any code is written.
Build & Iterate
Backend, frontend, and integration built in parallel. Each deliverable is tested and deployable. Regular checkpoints to keep delivery aligned with intent.
Deploy & Launch
Docker deployment, SSL, domain setup, and final testing. Your system goes live with monitoring in place and support available. The build covers initial setup — ongoing hosting is a separate monthly service (see Light Hosting).
Pricing
Starting from R35,000 for simple internal tools and CRUD systems with authentication.
Most App Starter projects range between R45,000–R80,000 depending on:
- Number of modules and collections
- Authentication complexity
- Role-based access depth
- Real-time features
- Frontend complexity
- External integrations
Advanced MVP systems requiring complex workflows, multi-tenant architecture, or billing systems are quoted under Business Systems.