How to set up real-time sync in AtomicServer with React?

Use the @tomic/react library, which provides hooks for WebSocket integration; the README mentions a single one-liner to enable real-time updates, simplifying collaborative app development.

AtomicServer vs Airtable for collaborative apps?

AtomicServer is open-source and self-hosted with real-time sync and custom data models, ideal for control and scalability, while Airtable offers a richer SaaS ecosystem but less flexibility and higher costs at scale.

Does AtomicServer support SQL queries?

No, it uses its own query language based on Atomic Collections for pagination, sorting, and filtering, designed for graph-like data rather than traditional relational queries.

Can I use AtomicServer only as a database without the CMS features?

Yes, it can function as a headless graph database via the RESTful API, allowing you to bypass the table editor and other CMS components for pure data management.

What are the performance benchmarks for full-text search?

The README cites responses often under 3ms, powered by tantivy, making it suitable for fast, fuzzy search with various operators in data-intensive applications.

How does AtomicServer handle data backup and migration?

Event-sourced versioning with Atomic Commits provides a full history, but backup tools are community-driven and limited in alpha; migration may require manual effort due to the custom data model.

Atomic-Server

MITTypeScriptv0.40.0Self-Hosted

An open-source headless CMS and real-time database with a powerful table editor, full-text search, and SDKs for JS/React/Svelte.

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What is Atomic-Server?

AtomicServer is an open-source headless CMS and real-time graph database built on the Atomic Data specification. It provides a powerful table editor, full-text search, and real-time synchronization, allowing developers to create, model, and share structured data with collaborative features. It solves the problem of managing dynamic, validated data in applications that require real-time updates and flexible data modeling.

Target Audience

Developers building collaborative applications, content management systems, or real-time data platforms who need a lightweight, self-hosted database with strict schema validation and real-time sync capabilities.

Value Proposition

Developers choose AtomicServer for its combination of high performance, real-time synchronization, and flexible data modeling in a lightweight, self-hosted package. Its built-in table editor, full-text search, and support for custom schemas make it a versatile alternative to commercial platforms like Airtable and Notion.

Overview

An open source headless CMS / real-time database. Powerful table editor, full-text search, and SDKs for JS / React / Svelte.

Use Cases

Best For

Building collaborative document editors similar to Google Docs or Notion

Related Projects

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

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1.6k stars73 forks0 contributors

Creating real-time dashboards with live data synchronization

Developing custom headless CMS platforms with flexible data models

Managing structured data with spreadsheet-like interfaces and validation

Implementing AI-enhanced applications using the Model Context Protocol

Self-hosting a lightweight, high-performance graph database for web apps

Not Ideal For

Production systems requiring stable, long-term APIs without breaking changes
Teams heavily invested in traditional SQL or MongoDB ecosystems seeking drop-in replacements
Applications where real-time collaboration is unnecessary, as AtomicServer's WebSocket and event-sourcing overhead adds complexity
Projects needing a vast ecosystem of third-party plugins or extensive community support for rapid development

Pros & Cons

Pros

Blazing Fast Performance

Median response times under 1ms, as stated in the README, powered by actix-web and sled for high-throughput applications.

Lightweight and Portable

8MB download with no runtime dependencies, running on Linux, Windows, Mac, and ARM, making deployment straightforward across environments.

Real-Time Synchronization

Built-in WebSockets enable instant state changes, allowing collaborative apps with minimal code, highlighted by one-liner integration in React or Svelte.

Flexible Data Modeling

Custom classes and properties via the Ontology Editor, with strict schema validation and sharable Atomic Schema, supporting dynamic data structures.

Cons

Alpha Stability Risks

The project is in alpha with breaking changes expected until 1.0, making it risky for production use due to potential API shifts and bugs.

Niche Data Specification

Relies on the Atomic Data specification, which has a smaller ecosystem and learning curve compared to standard databases like SQL or GraphQL.

Limited Maturity and Support

Documentation and community are growing but sparse; features like backup tools and migration paths are less polished than in established alternatives.

Open Source Alternative To

Atomic-Server is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Airtable

Airtable is a cloud-based platform that combines spreadsheet and database functionality to organize and collaborate on data with customizable views.

Notion

A productivity and note-taking web application that offers databases, kanban boards, wikis, calendars, and reminders. It integrates many workspace tools into one platform.

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#collaborative-editing