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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes. PostgreSQL can run as a local process without Docker, and Tinbase offers a Supabase-style local development workflow around it. Start with npx tinbase start. The important qualification is that Tinbase’s database engine depends on your platform: its documented default is native PostgreSQL 17 on macOS and Linux, but PGlite, PostgreSQL compiled to WebAssembly, on Windows. A third option, pgmem, is an in-memory development engine—not full PostgreSQL.
Why PostgreSQL does not require Docker
Docker is one way to package and run software; it is not a requirement of PostgreSQL itself. The PostgreSQL manual explains that a client connects locally or over a network to a running postgres instance. That server manages a database cluster in a common data area. Tinbase uses this local-server model for its native engine rather than requiring a PostgreSQL container. PostgreSQL 18 documentation: postgres.
Start Tinbase locally
In a project directory, run the documented quick-start command:
npx tinbase startTinbase says this starts its service and applies pending migrations. The default API address is http://127.0.0.1:54321. If the project contains supabase/migrations/*.sql and supabase/seed.sql, Tinbase reads those files; it can also boot without a Supabase directory. Tinbase project README.
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The documented CLI includes these operations:
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
npx tinbase start |
Run the server and apply pending migrations. |
npx tinbase migrate |
Apply migrations and exit. |
npx tinbase status |
List applied migrations. |
npx tinbase keys |
Print keys. |
npx tinbase gen types |
Generate TypeScript database types. |
npx tinbase db reset |
Wipe data and storage, then replay migrations and seed. |
npx tinbase db diff |
Produce DDL for schema changes. |
The default port is 54321; the README documents --port, TINBASE_PORT, and PORT as ways to configure it. Check the project’s current README for exact option syntax and any version-dependent changes.
Choose the engine that matches your platform and fidelity needs
| Engine | Documented default or use | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Native PostgreSQL 17 | Default on macOS and Linux | Embedded native PostgreSQL; platform binaries are downloaded on first run and cached locally. The database process listens on a private Unix socket, not TCP. The repository lists x64 and arm64 support for macOS and Linux. |
| PGlite (PostgreSQL/WASM) | Default on Windows; also described as portable and browser-ready | PostgreSQL compiled to WebAssembly. Tinbase reports substantially higher memory use than its native engine in its benchmark table. |
pgmem |
Optional in-memory development and preview engine | A pure-JavaScript Postgres-like engine. It is not full PostgreSQL and has meaningful behavior gaps, including request-level RLS enforcement. |
So “real Postgres” is accurate for Tinbase’s native mode and for PGlite as PostgreSQL compiled to WASM, but do not apply that description indiscriminately to pgmem. If you depend on a specific extension, SQL feature, or production behavior, run the project’s migrations with the selected engine and verify the behavior against the actual hosted target.
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How well does it fit a Supabase-style project?
Tinbase follows Supabase CLI-style migration conventions and records applied migrations in supabase_migrations.schema_migrations. Its stated goal is to keep migration files portable to hosted Supabase; that is not a guarantee of identical behavior. Tinbase says unavailable extension statements may be skipped, some services are emulated, and CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY is handled without the CONCURRENTLY keyword.
The project says the standard @supabase/supabase-js SDK can point to the local API, and describes REST, Auth, Storage, and Realtime surfaces. Its README also lists incomplete coverage, including selected database query features; MFA, SSO, SAML, and phone-auth methods; resumable storage uploads; some Realtime cases; and edge-function dependency resolution. Treat API compatibility as useful development coverage, not full Supabase parity.
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Memory figures and their limits
Tinbase publishes a benchmark measured on an Apple Silicon Mac with 48 GB of RAM and macOS 15. The workload was one migrated table, then 1,000 single-row inserts and 1,000 filtered list queries. In that setup, Tinbase reports the following memory figures; they are project-reported results, not universal requirements or an independent comparison. Tinbase project README.
| Setup in Tinbase’s benchmark | At boot | After the stated workload |
|---|---|---|
| Tinbase native | 59 MB | 100 MB |
| Supabase local | 1,441 MB | 1,626 MB |
| Tinbase PGlite/WASM | About 575–650 MB, depending on garbage-collection timing | Not stated |
The repository says it measured native processes with vmmap and containers with docker stats. Different hardware, workloads, software versions, and measurement methods can produce different results, so use these numbers only as a reference for Tinbase’s stated test.
When Tinbase is a sensible choice
Tinbase labels itself alpha and not production-ready. It describes its native and PGlite engines as serializing requests over one connection and says the system is suited to dev tools and small apps, not high-concurrency production use. That makes the clearest use case local development, prototypes, and embedded or browser scenarios—not replacing a production database without careful evaluation.
- Choose native mode when you are on macOS or Linux and want Tinbase’s embedded PostgreSQL process.
- Choose PGlite when Windows defaults or browser/portable operation suit your workflow, while allowing for different resource use and behavior.
- Use
pgmemselectively for lightweight previews where its documented gaps—especially RLS enforcement, cron, and pgmq—do not invalidate the result. - Validate migrations and features against both the local engine and hosted target whenever extensions, emulated services, or advanced SQL behavior matter.
The repository reports that its full suite of 168 integration tests passes on native and WASM engines. This is a Tinbase project test report, not independent validation of compatibility or production readiness.
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