Manifest
Complete backend from a single YAML file
About Manifest
Manifest is an open-source Backend-as-a-Service that generates a complete backend from a single YAML configuration file. It includes built-in authentication, validation, storage, image resizing, admin panel, REST API, JS SDK, and webhooks. Built on Next.js, it deploys anywhere Next.js runs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly fast to set up — single YAML file generates a full backend
- Built-in essentials: auth, admin panel, file storage, validation
- Open source with no vendor lock-in, self-hosted
- Works within your existing codebase and version control workflow
- Built on Next.js for familiar deployment patterns
Cons
- Less flexible than custom-built backends for complex business logic
- Relatively new project with a smaller community
- YAML-based configuration has limitations for advanced use cases
- Limited documentation compared to established BaaS platforms
Key Features
YAML-Driven Backend
Define your entire backend with a single YAML file — models, endpoints, and logic auto-generated
Built-in Auth
Authentication, permissions, and data validation are built into the runtime with no setup needed
Auto CRUD API
Automatically generated REST endpoints for create, read, update, and delete operations
Admin Panel
Auto-generated admin interface for managing data without building custom dashboards
File Storage
Built-in file storage with image resizing capabilities included
JS SDK & Webhooks
JavaScript SDK for frontend integration and webhook support for external service connections
Self-Hosted
Deploy and manage on your own infrastructure with no vendor lock-in
Pricing
- Full backend generation
- Auth & validation
- Admin panel
- REST API
- JS SDK
- File storage
- MIT license
Best For
MVP Backends
Quickly spin up a complete backend for prototypes and minimum viable products
Internal Tools
Build admin panels and CRUD interfaces for internal data management
Side Projects
Get a full backend running in minutes for personal projects without infrastructure overhead
API Prototyping
Create REST APIs with auto-generated endpoints for frontend development and testing
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