Programming and Extending PocketBase with JSVM
PocketBase is not just a simple backend solution—it offers powerful capabilities for extending its functionality through JavaScript, specifically using the Goja engine and its JSVM (JavaScript Virtual Machine). This allows developers to add custom logic, plugins, and server-side rendering to their applications, making PocketBase a highly versatile platform.
A Growing Ecosystem
The PocketBase ecosystem is expanding rapidly, making it easier to enhance your applications in a modular and scalable way. Two key projects that contribute to this growing ecosystem are:
- pocodex.dev: A plugin ecosystem that allows developers to share, discover, and integrate plugins into their PocketBase instances. Whether you need additional authentication features, API extensions, or other custom functionality, Pocodex provides a hub for PocketBase developers to contribute and utilize plugins.
- pocketpages.dev: A platform for building classic server-side rendered (SSR) pages with PocketBase. By leveraging PocketBase’s JSVM and the Goja engine, developers can serve SSR content, delivering a seamless experience for static or dynamic web pages directly from PocketBase.
Extending PocketBase with JSVM
PocketBase’s JSVM makes it possible to run custom JavaScript code directly within your PocketBase instance. This can be used for a wide range of tasks, from extending API functionality to adding business logic that runs server-side. With the JSVM feature, you can write JavaScript code that interacts with PocketBase’s core services, hooks, and events.
Use Cases for JSVM
Custom API Routes: Use the JSVM to define and execute custom routes that go beyond the default PocketBase APIs. This enables more sophisticated data manipulation, custom validation, and complex business logic.
Hooks and Triggers: Integrate JavaScript hooks into your application to trigger actions in response to database changes, such as sending notifications when records are updated or applying complex validation before data is written.
Plugin Support via Pocodex: With Pocodex, developers can extend PocketBase’s capabilities even further, utilizing existing plugins or contributing their own. The JSVM allows for plugins to be developed using JavaScript, making it easier to create reusable code modules for PocketBase.
Hosting Static and SSR Content
PocketHost is an excellent choice for hosting both static/SSG (Static Site Generation) and SSR (Server-Side Rendered) content. With PocketPages.dev and similar technologies, you can combine the power of PocketBase’s JSVM and server-side rendering to deliver fully dynamic web applications.
- Static Content: PocketHost supports static files and SSG, making it ideal for static websites or single-page applications.
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR): By using PocketPages and PocketBase’s JavaScript capabilities, you can serve SSR pages directly from your backend. This provides the advantages of SEO and faster initial page loads for dynamic content.