Convex
Reactive backend with a database and serverless functions
Convex is profiled here as a Backend tool for engineering teams. Read about features, pricing, and how it compares to related options in the tools directory.
Description
Convex is a reactive backend platform founded in 2021 by James Cowling and Ian Livingstone. It pairs a transactional document database with TypeScript functions that run on the server, and queries update connected clients automatically when underlying data changes, which removes manual cache and websocket plumbing. End-to-end type safety carries from the database to the frontend, and the backend is open source for self-hosting. The platform suits applications where live updates matter, and its functions run with transactional guarantees that keep client state consistent. Open-sourcing the backend gave teams a self-hosting path alongside the managed cloud.
Key Capabilities:
Reactive queries that push live updates to subscribed clients
TypeScript query, mutation, and action functions on the server
ACID-compliant document database with transactional guarantees
Built-in file storage, scheduling, and full-text search
Vector search for AI and RAG features
End-to-end type safety with an open-source self-hosting option
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