Open source Node.js backend that provides REST and GraphQL APIs, user auth, file storage and push notifications on MongoDB or PostgreSQL.
hasura/graphql-engine
Open-source engine that instantly exposes databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB and SQL Server as a secure GraphQL API with fine-grained access control.
Open-source alternative to:Firebase
- Stars
- 32,128
- Forks
- 2,979
- Open issues
- 2,364
- Last commit
- 10 hours ago
What is it?
Hasura GraphQL Engine provides access to data through a single, composable API endpoint. It connects to existing databases and generates a GraphQL API from their schema, so application teams do not have to hand-write resolvers for basic reads and writes.
The repository is a monorepo covering two generations of the product. The V3 engine, which powers Hasura DDN, supports PostgreSQL and its variants, MongoDB, ClickHouse and MS SQL Server, and lets teams add custom business logic through TypeScript, Python and Go connector SDKs. The V2 engine remains the current stable release.
Data Connectors for V3 are published as open source under Apache-2.0 and are listed in a public Connector Hub.
Key features
- 01Generates GraphQL APIs automatically from connected database schemas.
- 02Applies fine-grained, role-based access control to data.
- 03Supports PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouse and MS SQL Server in V3.
- 04Lets you extend the API with custom logic via TypeScript, Python or Go SDKs.
- 05Can trigger webhooks on database events.
Use cases
- Building a frontend that needs realtime data from an existing PostgreSQL database without writing a backend.
- Exposing several data sources through one unified GraphQL endpoint.
- Triggering webhooks or workflows when rows change in a database.
Quick start
- 1
Shallow clone the repository to save time and disk space
git clone https://github.com/hasura/graphql-engine.git --depth 1 - 2
Follow the Getting Started quickstart guide on the Hasura DDN docs to run the engine
Things to know
- The README gives no local build or run commands, so setup relies on external docs.
- This is a large monorepo with a long git history, so cloning can be slow and use a lot of disk space.
- The project is split into V2 and V3 codebases, and the README points to different docs for each.
Topics
FAQ
- What is graphql-engine?
- Open-source engine that instantly exposes databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB and SQL Server as a secure GraphQL API with fine-grained access control. Hasura GraphQL Engine provides access to data through a single, composable API endpoint. It connects to existing databases and generates a GraphQL API from their schema, so application teams do not have to hand-write resolvers for basic reads and writes.
- Is graphql-engine free to use? What license does it have?
- graphql-engine is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
- Is graphql-engine still maintained?
- Actively maintained. The last commit to graphql-engine was on Oct 20, 2026.
- What can I use graphql-engine for?
- Building a frontend that needs realtime data from an existing PostgreSQL database without writing a backend. Exposing several data sources through one unified GraphQL endpoint. Triggering webhooks or workflows when rows change in a database.
- How do I install graphql-engine?
- Shallow clone the repository to save time and disk space: git clone https://github.com/hasura/graphql-engine.git --depth 1 Follow the Getting Started quickstart guide on the Hasura DDN docs to run the engine
- Where can I get graphql-engine?
- The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/hasura/graphql-engine
Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.
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