illa-builder

**Low-code platform allows you to build business apps, enables you to quickly create internal tools such as dashboard, crud app, admin panel, crm, cms, etc. Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, Supabase, GraphQL, MongoDB, MSSQL, Rest API, Hugging Face, Redis, etc. Automate workflows with schedule or webhook. Open source Retool. **

⭐ 12,243 stars on GitHub · 🍴 1,202 forks · 📜 License: apache-2.0 · 💻 Language: TypeScript

What is illa-builder?

If you need a Retool-style internal app builder but want the option to self-host and keep data paths under your control, ILLA Builder is one of the more practical open source choices. Its differentiator is the combination of drag-and-drop UI building, broad data-source integration, workflow automation, and real-time collaboration in a developer-friendly TypeScript stack.

Main components

• Visual app builder for creating dashboards, CRUD tools, admin panels, CRMs, CMS interfaces, and other internal business apps.
• Built-in UI component library with tables, forms, charts, pages, and layout tools powered by ILLA Design.
• Data connectors for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Supabase, MongoDB, MSSQL, GraphQL, REST APIs, Redis, Hugging Face, and more.
• Action system for wiring UI components to queries, APIs, and backend operations without building the whole frontend from scratch.
• Workflow automation with scheduled jobs and webhook-triggered processes.
• Real-time collaboration so multiple team members can build and edit apps together.
• Self-hosted deployment support via Docker, Docker Compose, and Kubernetes.

Clear use cases

• Build an internal admin panel for customer support teams to search users, update records, and trigger backend actions.
• Create CRUD apps on top of PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or Supabase without writing a full React frontend.
• Ship operational dashboards that combine database queries, REST APIs, and charts in one interface.
• Prototype a CRM or CMS for a small business before committing to a larger custom build.
• Give non-frontend-heavy engineering teams a faster way to build tools for finance, ops, sales, and support.
• Automate routine internal workflows using schedules or webhooks instead of maintaining small one-off scripts.

The biggest strength is speed-to-internal-tool without giving up self-hosting — ILLA Builder lets developers assemble real business apps quickly while still connecting directly to existing databases and APIs. Compared with commercial platforms like Retool, the open source and self-hosted angle is the key value: you can run it in your own environment, control deployment, and avoid pushing sensitive operational tooling fully into a vendor SaaS.

It is not a replacement for fully custom software when you need highly specialized UX, complex domain logic, or strict engineering control over every frontend detail. But for the large class of internal tools that are mostly forms, tables, queries, dashboards, and admin workflows, it can remove a lot of repetitive boilerplate.

Best for engineering teams, platform teams, startups, and IT departments that need to build internal apps quickly while keeping the option to self-host.

Topics: the project is tagged with popular topics:

• 🏷️ aiagent
• 🏷️ app-builder
• 🏷️ crud-application
• 🏷️ developer-tool
• 🏷️ developer-tools
• 🏷️ gui
• 🏷️ hacktoberfest
• 🏷️ internal-development
• 🏷️ internal-tool
• 🏷️ internal-tools

📸 Screenshots

Quick install

See the README for detailed install instructions. Most projects support Docker — if the repo has a Dockerfile, use:

git clone https://github.com/illacloud/illa-builder.git
cd illa-builder
docker build -t illa-builder .
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 illa-builder

Minimum system requirements

⚡ Deploy fast on VSIS

Use the VSIS VPS Lite 2GB RAM / 2 vCPU / 25GB SSD (~104k/tháng) plan from VSIS.NET — high-speed VN-based VPS, 24/7 support, ideal for running illa-builder smoothly.

🎯 Benefits:

• One-command docker compose up -d deploy in 2 minutes
• Dedicated IPv4, root access, unmetered domestic bandwidth
• Daily snapshot backup
• Free install assistance from the VSIS team

👉 See matching VPS plans at vsis.net

Resources

• 🔗 GitHub: illacloud/illa-builder
• 📚 Official docs: see README in the repo
• 💬 Community: GitHub Issues + Discussions

Article compiled from GitHub data on 05/05/2026. Star/fork counts may have changed — see live numbers via the GitHub link.