⚡ Setup Budibase — Self-Hosted Internal Tools Builder
Deploy Budibase on Ubuntu with Docker — the open-source low-code platform for building internal tools, admin panels, approval workflows, and dashboards on top of any database or API.
📦 Resources & Setup Scripts
Grab the automated bash script from GitHub to follow along with the video.
Quick Install:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/low-code/budibase/budibase-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x budibase-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash budibase-ubuntu.shTutorial Steps
1 Download the Script
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/low-code/budibase/budibase-ubuntu.sh2 Make it Executable
chmod +x budibase-ubuntu.sh3 Run the Installer
The script installs Docker if needed, pulls the Budibase image, and starts it with persistent storage. The first startup takes about 30–60 seconds while the bundled CouchDB and MinIO initialise.
sudo bash budibase-ubuntu.sh4 Access the Web UI
Open your browser and navigate to the Budibase setup wizard:
http://<your-server-ip>:80Ports Used
| Port | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 80 | Budibase Web UI & API |
Overview
Budibase is an open-source low-code platform for building internal tools — admin panels, approval workflows, CRUD interfaces, dashboards, and automation workflows — without writing frontend code.
Why Use It
Internal teams waste enormous engineering time on repetitive admin tools. Budibase eliminates that cost with a drag-and-drop builder that connects directly to your databases and APIs.
When You Need It
Who Should Use It
Real Use Cases
Main Features
How to Use After Installation
Security Best Practices
Ports and Firewall Notes
Budibase serves its web UI and API on port 80 (HTTP). In production, place Nginx Proxy Manager or Traefik in front to add HTTPS. CouchDB (5984) and MinIO (9000) are internal only.
Backup and Maintenance
Common Mistakes
Troubleshooting
Alternatives
Appsmith is a strong alternative focused on connecting to REST APIs and databases. ToolJet provides a similar visual builder with 45+ data source connectors. Retool is the popular cloud-hosted equivalent (paid). NocoDB turns databases into spreadsheet views but lacks workflow automation.
When Not to Use It
If your primary need is exposing database tables as collaborative spreadsheets, NocoDB or Baserow are simpler. Budibase is not designed for customer-facing public applications.
PrismaTechWork Professional Help
PrismaTechWork provides end-to-end infrastructure services — from initial deployment and security hardening to ongoing monitoring, automated backups, and dedicated support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Budibase connect to my existing PostgreSQL database?
Yes. In the app editor, go to Data → Add datasource → PostgreSQL and enter your host, port, database name, and credentials.
Does Budibase have role-based access control?
Yes. Budibase has four built-in roles: Admin, Power User, Basic User, and Public. You can assign roles per app and even per-row.
How is Budibase different from Appsmith or ToolJet?
Budibase includes a built-in CouchDB database and MinIO object storage. Appsmith and ToolJet require an external data source.
Can I make Budibase apps publicly accessible?
Yes. Enable Public access in app settings. For production, always put this behind Nginx with HTTPS.
How do I update Budibase to a new version?
Run docker compose pull then docker compose up -d in /root/docker/budibase. Back up CouchDB and MinIO volumes first.