Getting Started with PocketBase Cloud

PocketBase Cloud makes it incredibly easy to deploy and manage your PocketBase applications without worrying about server configuration, security, or scaling. In this guide, we’ll walk you through deploying your first PocketBase instance in under 5 minutes.

What is PocketBase?

PocketBase is an open-source backend solution that combines a real-time database (SQLite), authentication, file storage, and a built-in admin dashboard into a single executable. It’s perfect for building modern web and mobile applications quickly.

Why Choose PocketBase Cloud?

While PocketBase is easy to self-host, PocketBase Cloud takes it to the next level by providing:

• Managed Infrastructure: No need to configure servers or worry about maintenance
• Automatic Backups: Daily backups ensure your data is always safe
• Global Deployment: Deploy to data centers close to your users
• Multi-Instance Hosting: Run multiple PocketBase instances on a single server
• Built-in Security: SSL certificates, firewalls, and DDoS protection included

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A PocketBase Cloud account (sign up at pocketbasecloud.com)
• Basic understanding of backend concepts
• A project idea you want to build

Step 1: Create Your Account

Visit pocketbasecloud.com and click “Get Started”. You’ll be guided through a simple registration process:

1. Enter your email address
2. Create a secure password
3. Verify your email
4. Complete your profile

Step 2: Provision a Server

Once logged in, navigate to the Servers page and click “Create Server”:

1. Choose a location: Select a data center close to your users for optimal performance
2. Select server size: Start with a basic plan (2GB RAM, 2 vCPUs) - you can always upgrade later
3. Name your server: Give it a memorable name like “production-server” or “dev-server”
4. Review and create: Confirm your selection and click “Create Server”

Your server will be ready in approximately 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Create Your First PocketBase Instance

With your server ready, it’s time to create your first PocketBase instance:

1. Navigate to the Projects page
2. Click “Create Instance”
3. Fill in the details:
   • Instance name: e.g., “my-first-app”
   • Select server: Choose the server you just created
   • Admin credentials: Set your admin username and password
4. Click “Create Instance”

Your PocketBase instance will be deployed automatically and will be accessible at a unique URL like https://my-first-app.pocketbasecloud.com.

Step 4: Access Your Admin Dashboard

Once your instance is running:

1. Click on your instance in the Projects list
2. Copy the instance URL
3. Open it in your browser
4. Add /_/ to the URL to access the admin dashboard
5. Log in with the credentials you set during creation

Congratulations! You now have a fully functional PocketBase backend.

Step 5: Create Your First Collection

Let’s create a simple “posts” collection to store blog posts:

1. In the admin dashboard, click “Collections”
2. Click “New Collection”
3. Choose “Base collection”
4. Set the collection name to “posts”
5. Add fields:
   • title (Text)
   • content (Editor)
   • published (Boolean)
6. Configure API rules as needed
7. Click “Create”

Next Steps

Now that you have your PocketBase instance running, you can:

• Connect your frontend: Use the PocketBase JavaScript SDK to connect your React, Vue, or Svelte app
• Set up authentication: Enable email/password or OAuth authentication
• Upload files: Configure file storage for user uploads
• Enable real-time: Set up real-time subscriptions for live updates
• Custom domains: Add your own domain name to your instance

Best Practices

As you build your application, keep these best practices in mind:

1. Use environment variables: Never hardcode your PocketBase URL or credentials
2. Implement proper auth: Always validate user permissions on the backend
3. Monitor usage: Keep an eye on your server resources and scale when needed
4. Regular backups: While we provide automatic backups, consider exporting critical data periodically
5. Test before deploying: Use a separate instance for development and testing

Conclusion

You’ve successfully deployed your first PocketBase instance on PocketBase Cloud! The platform handles all the infrastructure complexity, allowing you to focus on building amazing applications.

Ready to scale? Check out our guide on Multi-Instance Hosting to learn how to maximize your server resources.

Have questions? Join our community Discord or contact [email protected].

Happy building! 🚀