How to Connect Supabase to Budibase

Overview of Supabase and Budibase

Supabase and Budibase solve different but complementary layers of the modern web stack. Supabase is an open-source Backend as a Service: it provides a hosted Postgres database, authentication, storage, real-time subscriptions, and serverless edge functions. Budibase is a low-code platform for building internal tools and web apps quickly, offering a visual UI builder, data model mapping, forms, tables, and basic automation.

When you pair Supabase and Budibase, Supabase becomes the secure, scalable backend while Budibase is the front-end builder that your team uses to create interfaces and workflows. This combination provides a production-ready data infrastructure with a fast surface area for building UIs and user flows without requiring hand-coding of the entire stack. The rest of this guide walks through preparing Supabase, connecting it to Budibase, and operating the integration responsibly in production.

Setting Up Supabase for Integration

1. Create your Supabase project

   • Sign in at supabase.com, create a new project, and assign a secure password for the database. Choose the closest region for lower latency.

     
     

2. Review and create your database schema

   • Use the SQL editor or Table editor to create the tables your Budibase app will use. Keep table naming and columns simple and well documented. Add indexes on columns you will query frequently (e.g., user_id, created_at).

     
     

3. Generate API keys

   • In the Supabase dashboard, go to Settings → API and copy the Project URL. You will also see two primary keys: the anon (public) key and the service_role key. Store them in a secrets store and avoid exposing service_role in client-side code.

     
     

4. Enable Row Level Security (optional but recommended)

   • Turn on RLS for tables that contain user-specific or sensitive data. Define policies that restrict row access based on authenticated user IDs or roles. RLS improves security but requires you to test queries from Budibase to ensure they run with the intended privileges.

     
     

5. Enable real-time and replication (if you need live updates)

   • Supabase uses Postgres replication and real-time to push changes. Turn on real-time for the tables you intend to subscribe to. Note that real-time can increase traffic and complexity; enable it only where the UX benefits (live dashboards, collaborative editing) justify the cost.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Supabase to Budibase

This section covers the practical steps inside the Budibase console to add Supabase as a data source and test the connection.

1. Create or open your Budibase app

   • Log in to Budibase and create a new application or open an existing one. Navigate to the Data or Data Sources section.

     
     

2. Add a new data source and choose “Supabase” (if available) or “Custom Postgres”

   • Budibase has built-in connectors; if a Supabase option exists, it will prompt you for the Supabase Project URL and the anon or service_role key. If not, use the generic Postgres connector and supply the connection string from Supabase.

     
     

3. Supply connection details

   • For the Supabase connector, provide: • Project URL (e.g., https://xyzcompany.supabase.co) • API key: use the anon key for client-side read operations and the service_role key for admin operations in secure server-side components. • If using the Postgres connector, supply the full DB connection string (host, port, user, password, database). Only use service_role-level credentials on server-side or serverless connectors.

     
     

4. Test the connection

   • Budibase will validate the connection. If the test fails, check that the URL is correct, the keys are valid, and that your Supabase project allows connections from your Budibase host (if IP restrictions are configured).

     
     

5. Map tables to Budibase models

   • Once connected, import tables or views from Supabase into Budibase as data models. Customize field types, labels, and relationships. Budibase will show columns and types; adjust filters or add computed fields as needed.

     
     

6. Wire data models to UI components

   • In the Budibase UI builder, bind tables to list or table components and bind form fields to create/update actions. Test CRUD flows against your Supabase backend.

How to View Supabase Data in Budibase

Bind Budibase UI components—tables, lists, forms, charts—to the Supabase models you imported. Favor server-side pagination and filtering rather than loading entire tables into the browser. Use parameterized queries for dashboards (for example, fetch orders with status = :status and created_at > :startDate) to keep responses small and fast.

If you need combined or transformed data, define views in Supabase and surface those views to Budibase; that keeps complex SQL in the database where it belongs and simplifies the UI. For JSON or array fields, add parsing or formatted columns in Budibase so they render cleanly. Enable real-time subscriptions only on components that truly need them and validate behavior across authenticated users and roles.

Working with Authentication

Use Supabase Auth as the single source of truth for sign-in and session state. Enable the auth providers you need—email/password, magic links, or OAuth providers. Build Budibase sign-up and sign-in forms to call Supabase Auth endpoints and store returned JWTs in Budibase session or secure cookies. Map JWT claims to Budibase session variables so you can control conditional UI visibility (for example, admin-only sections).

Never expose the service_role key in client code. For admin tasks requiring elevated rights, create server-side endpoints—Supabase Edge Functions or protected Budibase server connectors—that hold the service_role key and perform the action on behalf of the client. Implement graceful token expiration handling so the UI prompts the user to re-authenticate when needed.

Using Edge Functions in Supabase

Edge functions provide secure server-side logic close to your data. Use them for complex validation, batch writes, third-party API calls requiring secrets, or background jobs that should not run in the browser. Create and deploy functions via the Supabase dashboard or CLI, keeping them small and focused.

Call edge functions from Budibase via HTTP actions and include the appropriate token. If a function needs elevated rights, call it using a server-side token or through a server-side connector rather than directly from the browser. Edge functions are also ideal for scheduled tasks: exports, cleanup jobs, or reports. Instrument them with logging and error alerts so you can diagnose failures quickly.

Version History and Database Restores

Treat backups and schema migrations as standard operational tasks. Use Supabase’s snapshot and backup tools and keep migration SQL in source control. Take snapshots before significant releases and practice restoring them into staging so the team knows the recovery steps and timings. A documented restore checklist reduces stress during incidents.

Disconnecting Supabase from Budibase

If you need to remove the integration, back up data, and export migration files first. In Budibase, remove the Supabase data source and update pages that referenced those models.

Revoke keys and rotate related secrets if you plan to decommission the Supabase project. If you are migrating to another backend, export tables in a compatible format and import them into the new system before re-pointing Budibase data sources.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Connection problems often boil down to incorrect URLs, invalid keys, or network restrictions. Check Supabase logs for rejected attempts. Stale or missing data in Budibase typically points to query filters, disabled real-time, or RLS policies that block rows. Authentication issues usually stem from incorrect key usage: client code should use the anon key while server-side operations use service_role.

If real-time subscriptions drop, verify WebSocket connectivity and that the table is enabled for real-time events. When queries work in the Supabase dashboard but fail from Budibase, re-check RLS policies and ensure the request includes user context.

Conclusion

Connecting Supabase to Budibase gives you a powerful balance of speed, scalability, and flexibility. Supabase handles authentication, data, and server-side logic, while Budibase lets you rapidly build internal tools, dashboards, and workflows on top of that data. With proper configuration—RLS policies, secure key handling, well-designed views, and edge functions—you can operate a robust production setup that remains easy to maintain and extend.

If you need help integrating Supabase with Budibase, designing secure data flows, or building internal tools faster, contact Leanware for expert implementation and engineering support.

FAQs

Does Budibase support Supabase real-time subscriptions?

Yes. Budibase can subscribe to Supabase real-time feeds and update UI components when rows change. Use real-time sparingly and test behavior under realistic loads.

Should I use the service_role key or anon key for Budibase?

Use the anon key for client-side actions and RLS-protected queries. Never expose the service_role key in client code; use it only in server-side connectors or edge functions.

How do I handle Supabase Row Level Security (RLS) in Budibase?

Write RLS policies that match your role model and test them using the JWTs Budibase will send. For server-side tasks requiring elevated rights, use edge functions or secure connectors that hold service_role credentials.

Can I use Supabase Storage for file uploads in my Budibase app?

Yes. Build upload forms that POST files to Supabase Storage and record the returned URLs in your tables. Protect private files with signed URLs and enforce access through RLS and bucket policies.

What Supabase features are not practical in Budibase?

Budibase is strong for CRUD, forms, and light automations. Complex transaction-heavy logic, advanced SQL orchestration, or heavy compute tasks belong in edge functions or a dedicated backend.