Freedom251 › Low-Code Development Platforms
Xataface
What Xataface is
Xataface turns a MySQL database into a customizable web application, so people can work with its data without knowing SQL. It provides browse, search, edit, import, and export interfaces, along with automatic forms, editable grids, related records, file uploads, record history, and undo and redo. Export options include CSV, XML, JSON, and RSS. Developers and database administrators can tailor applications through INI files, templates, delegate classes, hooks, and plug-ins. Permissions can be set for applications, tables, records, and fields, including role-based access and per-user authentication. Authentication options include pluggable methods and modules for Yale CAS and LDAP, as well as Facebook and HTTP authentication. The maker describes support for translated interfaces, multilingual database content, and per-record language variants. Xataface is open source, free, and self-hosted, with web and API platforms. Listed requirements are PHP 5.2 or higher and MySQL 5 or higher. The maker says it was created in 2005 and has been used for content management, event registration, research databases, and commerce.
Who it suits
Xataface is aimed at web developers and database administrators building MySQL front ends for non-technical users. It suits teams that want to host and customize their own data applications.
What it does well
- Open-source software released under the GPL.
- Includes browse, search, edit, import, and export interfaces.
- Supports application, table, record, and field permissions.
- Exports CSV, XML, JSON, and RSS.
- Supports multilingual content and translated interfaces.
What to know first
- Requires PHP 5.2 or higher and MySQL 5 or higher.
- The getting-started guide says to block web access to conf.ini.
- The maker describes its forum archive as read-only.
- Release notes identify past SQL injection and XSS fixes.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Xataface | Open-source software released under the GPL | Free |
| GPL open-source | Core framework available under GPL · self-hosted PHP/MySQL deployment | Free |
As xataface.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Xataface provides a broad set of database-to-application tools, with customizable forms, data views, and permission controls. It is free and self-hosted, so users need to meet its PHP and MySQL requirements.
Facts from Xataface's own pages
- API
- The public API exposes helpers for searching, loading, editing, deleting and saving records and for building forms and templates. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API caveat
- The documented df_get_records_array helper returns truncated previews unless its preview option is disabled or another method is used. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The maker describes Xataface as a tool for web developers and database administrators building MySQL front ends for non-technical users. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The Xataface 3.0.0 release notes say the release improves compatibility with PHP 7.3 and PHP 8 and includes a mobile theme. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- CRUD interface
- The generated interface supports browsing, searching, editing, importing and exporting records. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Fields, forms, lists and actions can be changed through fields.ini, delegate classes and template blocks. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Database focus
- The project is designed for PHP applications backed by MySQL. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Data features
- The feature list includes automatic forms, editable grids, related records, file uploads, record history, undo and redo, and CSV, XML, JSON, and RSS export. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Documentation includes a developer guide, website, wiki, getting-started tutorial and troubleshooting material. · packagist.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Modules can add authentication handlers, actions, templates, template blocks and trigger handlers. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- File access control
- The secure fields.ini directive makes uploaded container files obey application permissions when served through Xataface. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded or registered
- SourceForge records the Xataface project as registered on November 25, 2005. · sourceforge.net, 15 Oct 2026
- History
- The maker says Xataface was created by Steve Hannah in 2005 and has been used for content management, event registration, research databases, and commerce. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Independent review: configuration
- A PhP Logic review says the framework is primarily configuration-driven and can produce a useful CRUD application with minimal PHP. · phplogic.wordpress.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review: exports
- The PhP Logic review notes standard CSV, XML and RSS export options in the generated interface. · phplogic.wordpress.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker documents pluggable authentication and available modules for Yale CAS and LDAP, as well as Facebook and HTTP authentication options. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Internationalization
- Native capabilities include multilingual content, translated interface text and language variants for records. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The maker describes support for UI translations, multilingual database content, and per-record language variants. · xataface.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies Xataface as GPL-2.0 licensed, while the project site describes it generally as GPL software. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: database scope
- The PhP Logic review says adapting Xataface to DB2 directly would be a major undertaking because it is built around MySQL. · phplogic.wordpress.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: documentation language
- The reviewed project materials are English-language documentation and tutorials. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The project copyright and site footer identify Steve Hannah as the copyright holder and maintainer. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker location
- Steve Hannah's public GitHub profile lists Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Modules
- Drop-in modules add functions such as rich-text editing, calendars, reports, tagging and AJAX uploads. · xataface.com, 15 Oct 2026
Where Xataface stands on Freedom251
- Low-Code Development Platforms#6 of 56