Tacobase × Bolt.new

The backend that works inside Bolt

Full database, auth, realtime, and file storage — auto-provisioned when Bolt runs npm install. No account, no dashboard, no setup.

What is Bolt.new?

Bolt.new is an AI-powered full-stack web development environment running in your browser via StackBlitz WebContainer. It generates, runs, and deploys complete web apps — Vite, React, Node.js and more — without installing anything locally. Bolt handles the frontend; tacobase handles the backend.

Zero-Config Setup

A live backend — database, auth, realtime, and storage — without touching a dashboard.

1

Tell Bolt to use tacobase

Say this in your Bolt prompt. Bolt fetches the tacobase guide and installs the packages — including @tacobase/taco, which triggers auto-provisioning via postinstall.

prompt
use tacobase for the backend
2

npm install triggers auto-provisioning

Bolt runs npm install in the StackBlitz WebContainer. The @tacobase/taco postinstall script calls POST /api/instant, provisions a live project, and writes credentials to .env — no account, no dashboard.

terminal
npm install @tacobase/taco @tacobase/client @tacobase/react

# postinstall runs automatically:
# → calls POST https://tacobase.dev/api/instant
# → writes to .env:
VITE_TACOBASE_URL=https://spicy-bold-taco.tacobase.dev
VITE_TACOBASE_API_KEY=tbk_...
3

Bolt wires up your app

Bolt reads the TACOBASE.md context file written by the postinstall, wraps your app in TacoProvider, and uses useAuth, useCollection, and useRealtime in your components. Collections auto-create on first write.

4

Claim your project

Instant projects expire in 24 hours. Bolt shows you a "Claim your project" notice with the claimUrl from .env. Visit it to save the project permanently to your tacobase account.

SDK Patterns for Vite / React

Copy-paste ready. Env vars use the VITE_ prefix.

Wrap your app — src/main.tsx
import { TacoProvider } from '@tacobase/react'

<TacoProvider
  url={import.meta.env.VITE_TACOBASE_URL}
  apiKey={import.meta.env.VITE_TACOBASE_API_KEY}
>
  <App />
</TacoProvider>
Auth
import { useAuth, AuthForm } from '@tacobase/react'

// Drop-in auth UI:
<AuthForm providers={['google', 'github']} onSuccess={() => window.location.reload()} />

// Custom:
const { user, loading, signIn, signOut } = useAuth()
Database — collections auto-create on first write
import { useCollection } from '@tacobase/react'
import { createClient } from '@tacobase/client'

// Read:
const { data: posts, loading } = useCollection('posts', {
  sort: '-created',
  filter: 'published = true',
})

// Write:
const db = createClient(
  import.meta.env.VITE_TACOBASE_URL,
  import.meta.env.VITE_TACOBASE_API_KEY
)
await db.collection('posts').create({ title: 'Hello', published: true })
await db.collection('posts').update(id, { title: 'Updated' })
await db.collection('posts').delete(id)
Realtime
import { useRealtime } from '@tacobase/react'

useRealtime('posts', (event) => {
  console.log(event.action, event.record) // 'create' | 'update' | 'delete'
})

Everything Bolt.new Projects Need

True postinstall provisioning

Bolt.new's StackBlitz WebContainer runs full Node.js — including npm postinstall scripts. @tacobase/taco provisions a live backend automatically the moment npm install completes.

Collections on demand

No schema setup, no migrations. Collections create themselves the first time you write data. Bolt can define any data model on the fly.

Drop-in auth

Email/password and OAuth (Google, GitHub) with a single component. useAuth gives you user, signIn, signOut — no config required.

Realtime built in

WebSocket subscriptions on any collection with useRealtime. Live feeds, collaborative features, and notifications without extra infrastructure.

File storage

Upload images and files directly from the browser. Files attach to records and serve from CDN-backed URLs with image transform support.

Works in WebContainer

tacobase is a hosted BaaS — no local server, no Docker, no ports. It works perfectly inside StackBlitz's browser-based Node.js environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the postinstall script work in Bolt's WebContainer?

Yes. StackBlitz WebContainer runs Node.js and supports npm postinstall scripts. When Bolt runs npm install @tacobase/taco, the postinstall fires, calls the tacobase instant API, and writes credentials to .env — all inside the browser sandbox.

Do I need a tacobase account?

No. The instant provisioning API creates a live project with no account required. You only need an account if you want to claim the project and keep it permanently. Instant projects expire after 24 hours.

Do I need to set up database tables or a schema?

No. tacobase collections auto-create on first write. When your app calls db.collection("posts").create(...) for the first time, the "posts" collection is created automatically with whatever fields you use.

What env var prefix does Bolt use?

Bolt generates Vite projects, so client-side env vars need the VITE_ prefix. tacobase auto-provisions VITE_TACOBASE_URL and VITE_TACOBASE_API_KEY in .env — use import.meta.env.VITE_TACOBASE_URL in your code.

What happens to my data after 24 hours?

Instant projects expire after 24 hours unless claimed. The .env file includes a claim URL. Visiting it lets you create a tacobase account and transfer ownership permanently. Your data is preserved.

Is tacobase free?

Yes. The Soft tier is free and includes 2 projects and 1 GB storage. Paid plans (Crunchy at $7/mo, Loaded at $19/mo) add more projects and storage.

Ready to Try Tacobase?

No account. No dashboard. No setup. Just build.

Get Started Free

Free tier available. No credit card required.