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Self-host tinykit

v0.0.1

Open-source AI app builder for self-hosted web apps

BetaOpen SourceMIT
GitHubWebsite
Install
Updated9 months ago
LanguageSvelte
Setup difficultyModerate
MobileResponsive
Stars
525
CPU
1 core
RAM
1GB minimum, 2GB recommended
Storage
5GB minimum
Ports
3000 (Production server port), 5173 (Development server port)
Requires
Node.js
Install with Docker
Builder interface overview showing Kanban templateAI Agent panel generating Hacker News reader appCode Editor panel with syntax highlightingContent Fields panel for CMS-style editingDesign System panel with CSS variable controlsDatabase panel showing data collections

What is tinykit?

This open-source tool runs on your own server and lets you create web applications by chatting with an AI agent. It generates Svelte 5 code, provides a code editor with live preview, and includes content fields for no-code text changes, a visual design system, and a built-in PocketBase database with real-time sync. Multiple apps share one server through domain-based routing. Deploy with Docker, Docker Compose, a VPS, or Railway. MIT licensed and in early beta.

Should you self-host tinykit?

tinykit scores 48/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #59 of 125 in AI. It has 525 GitHub stars.

It shipped 1 stable release in the past year. The latest, v0.0.1, came out on 6 January 2026.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. It is MIT-licensed and written mostly in Svelte.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is OpenDesign (83/100, 104 492 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See tinykit vs OpenDesign side by side.

Features

  • AI agent
  • Bring-your-own LLM
  • Code Editor
  • Content Fields
  • Database
  • Design System
  • Live Preview
  • Multi-App Routing
  • Snapshots
  • Starter Templates
  • Static Deployment
  • Themeable Studio

tinykit README

How to install tinykit

Install tinykit with Docker

Docker Engine
Environment variables
LLM_PROVIDER, LLM_API_KEY, LLM_MODEL, POCKETBASE_ADMIN_EMAIL, POCKETBASE_ADMIN_PASSWORD

Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/tinykit-studio/tinykit.git cd tinykit

Build the image

docker build -f deploy/docker/Dockerfile -t tinykit .

Run the container

docker run -d
-p 3000:3000
-e LLM_PROVIDER=anthropic
-e LLM_API_KEY=your-api-key
-e POCKETBASE_ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@example.com
-e POCKETBASE_ADMIN_PASSWORD=your-password
-v tinykit-data:/app/pocketbase/pb_data
--name tinykit
tinykit

Access at http://localhost:3000/tinykit

How to configure tinykit

  • HOST0.0.0.0Host address to bind to

    Host address to bind to

  • LLM_API_KEYAPI key for your AI provider

    API key for your AI provider

  • LLM_BASE_URLCustom API endpoint for OpenAI-compatible providers

    Custom API endpoint for OpenAI-compatible providers

  • LLM_MODELvaries by providerSpecific model to use

    Specific model to use

  • LLM_PROVIDERAI provider to use for the agent (anthropic, openai, gemini, deepseek)

    AI provider to use for the agent (anthropic, openai, gemini, deepseek)

    values: anthropic, openai, gemini, deepseek

  • POCKETBASE_ADMIN_EMAILEmail address for the PocketBase admin account

    Email address for the PocketBase admin account

  • POCKETBASE_ADMIN_PASSWORDPassword for the PocketBase admin account (min 8 chars)

    Password for the PocketBase admin account (min 8 chars)

  • POCKETBASE_URLOptional URL of an external PocketBase instance

    Optional URL of an external PocketBase instance

  • PORT3000 (production), 5173 (development)Server port

    Server port

tinykit releases & version history

Even more releases RSS

FAQ

What languages/frameworks does it generate?

tinykit generates Svelte 5 apps using the runes API ($state, $derived, $effect). Apps compile to standalone HTML with CSS-in-style blocks.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes! The editor and AI work on tablets, perfect for quick edits on the go.

Why do I need my own API key?

This keeps costs transparent and in your control. You pay your AI provider directly with no markup, hidden fees, or subscription.

Which AI providers are supported?

OpenAI (GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-3.5), Anthropic (Claude Sonnet 4, Claude 3.5 Sonnet), and Google Gemini (Gemini Pro, Gemini Flash).

Can I run multiple apps?

Yes! tinykit supports domain-based routing. Point multiple domains to your server and each serves a different app. Run hundreds of apps from a single tinykit instance.

Do I need Railway?

No. Railway is the easiest option but you can host anywhere that runs Node.js including Fly.io, DigitalOcean, AWS, any VPS, or Docker.

Is it open source?

Yes, MIT licensed. You can fork, customize, self-host, and sell services with it.

Is this production-ready?

tinykit is in early beta. Great for personal utilities, internal tools, and MVPs. Not recommended for public-facing apps with sensitive user data. No guarantees against data loss and auth requires manual wiring.

How is this different from Lovable, v0, or Cursor?

The key difference is that your builder and your app run on the same server with no separate deploy step. It's open source, brings your own AI key, works on mobile, supports multi-app hosting, and costs ~$10/month total.

What is tinykit?

tinykit is an AI-powered development platform that lets you build, edit, and host web apps from a single deployment. Chat with AI to generate code, edit in a VS Code-like editor, and see changes live instantly.

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