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UnderPeaks Core is presented by its publisher as free, open-source software you run on your own infrastructure. Its documented setup uses Git, Node.js and npm, a database, and a browser-based installer; a free UnderPeaks account and license key are required for code generation. The publisher says Core can generate Flutter and Next.js projects from a shared model, but that workflow and its output have not been independently tested here.
What UnderPeaks Core does—and what it does not include
UnderPeaks describes Core as a self-hosted content editor, backend, and REST API. The product is intended to let developers define shared data models and generate Flutter and Next.js source code from them. UnderPeaks says generated code is editable and can be deployed on your infrastructure; those are vendor claims, not independent findings about code quality or suitability for a particular project. The product page summarizes its pitch as “One model. Two apps.” (UnderPeaks product page).
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Core is distinct from UnderPeaks Studio. According to the publisher, Core runs on infrastructure you operate, while Studio is a hosted option that adds managed hosting and other features. Core installation does not require Studio. The material reviewed does not establish current Studio pricing or plan terms, so check the vendor’s current offering if you are weighing the hosted option.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The product page says an Underpeaks SDK for authentication, storage, notifications, and other modules is planned for December 2026. That is a vendor-announced future plan, not a feature to assume is available now. The page also labels its displayed API a preview that may change.
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Check the prerequisites before installing
The installation guide calls for Node.js and npm, Git, and a database, plus the database connection details needed by the installer. UnderPeaks names five database choices: Firebase, Supabase, MongoDB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. The published material does not compare their price, performance, or suitability for different workloads, so choose based on your existing stack and operational needs rather than an implied ranking.
- Node.js and npm: Needed to install dependencies and run the development server. The guide does not specify a required version.
- Git: Used to clone the Core repository.
- Database access: Have the connection information for your chosen supported database available, and confirm that your environment can reach it.
- Browser access: The setup continues in a browser at the local development address.
- UnderPeaks account and license key: The publisher says these are needed for code generation, even though it describes Core itself as free.
Choose a database around your operating constraints
Which database are you planning to run it on? The available product and installation sources establish the named options, but not a technical comparison between them. Consider whether your team already operates the database, where it will be hosted, whether it fits an existing project, how you will back up and restore it, and how connection details and network access will be managed. Validate those choices against your own requirements before committing production content.
Install Core using the documented flow
UnderPeaks’ guide describes a local setup sequence. It does not provide a tested result for every operating system, database configuration, or Node.js version, so treat these as the publisher’s documented steps rather than a guarantee of identical behavior in every environment.
- Clone the Core repository. Follow the repository instructions linked from the UnderPeaks installation guide. The guide’s five-minute title is promotional framing, not a measured installation time.
- Install dependencies. In the cloned project directory, run
npm install. - Start the development server. Run
npm run devfrom that directory. - Open the local installer. Visit
http://localhost:3000in a browser. - Configure a database in the installer. Choose one of the supported options and enter its connection details. The guide says Core tests the connection and creates system tables.
- Create the administrator account. Complete the first-admin setup in the browser.
- Enter the license key. The publisher says a free account/license key is needed for the code-generation workflow. The installer is described as writing environment configuration and offering optional demo content.
Explore the editor, then generate an app
The installation guide’s product tour names Shared Models, Pages, Menu, Navigator, Theme, Storage, Users, and Settings. These are the areas the publisher identifies in the interface; the guide does not establish that each is required for a basic setup. For the shared-model workflow, start with the data structure you want both clients to consume, then follow the documented CLI process.
- Install the CLI. The publisher names the command-line package
underpeaks-nxf; follow its published installation instructions. - Sign in. Run
nxf login. - Generate the target project. Run
nxf generate flutterfor Flutter ornxf generate nextjsfor Next.js.
UnderPeaks says generated output includes models, an API client, and authentication flows. Those are descriptions of the vendor’s documented workflow, not a verification of the generated code’s completeness, security, or production readiness. Inspect and test the output within your normal development process before relying on it.
Understand the free and open-source wording
UnderPeaks describes Core as free and open-source software. Its product page uses both “Apache-style open license” and “MIT-friendly license” wording, while the October 1 installation guide says Apache 2.0. That marketing language is not enough to settle the legal terms. Before redistributing, modifying, or embedding Core, check the actual LICENSE file in the repository and rely on that text rather than the product-page shorthand.
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Also distinguish the software description from access to generation: the publisher says a free account and license key are needed to generate projects. “Free” therefore does not mean the documented workflow has no account step.
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Plan deployment separately from local installation
Running the development server at localhost is not the same as operating a production deployment. For a generated Next.js application, the official Next.js self-hosting guide recommends placing a reverse proxy such as nginx in front of a self-hosted server. It also notes that multiple instances require attention to shared caching and cache-tag coordination (Next.js self-hosting guide, updated October 1, 2026). These are framework-level deployment considerations, not UnderPeaks-specific requirements for a single local installation.
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Before exposing a generated app, plan the production runtime, database connectivity, backups, and any framework-specific operations work for your deployment topology. The vendor material cited here does not prescribe a complete production architecture for Core or generated projects.
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What to verify before adopting it
- Confirm the repository’s actual license before making legal or redistribution decisions.
- Check that the chosen database and its connection configuration fit your hosting and backup practices.
- Review generated Flutter or Next.js code and test its behavior rather than assuming generated output is production-ready.
- Separate Core’s self-hosted operating model from Studio’s hosted offering and verify current terms directly if considering Studio.
- For a self-hosted Next.js deployment, use the framework guidance appropriate to your instance count and caching setup.
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