Directus

Directus points at a SQL database you already have and turns it into a working backend. There is no migration to a proprietary format and no boilerplate CRUD layer to write, because the API and the admin interface are generated from the tables exactly as they stand.

Two surfaces sit on top of that database. Engineers keep control of schema and access rules, while non-technical teammates and AI agents work with live data through the Studio, a full management interface. Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite, OracleDB and CockroachDB are among the supported engines.

The parts worth knowing before you install it are below.

• REST and GraphQL APIs: generated automatically from your schema with no configuration step.
• Policy-based access control: permissions reach down to individual fields, applied to people and agents alike.
• Native MCP server: Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT or any MCP-compatible tool connects to the same data under the same policies.
• AI Assistant: embedded in the Studio to create content, run translations and trigger workflows.
• Extensibility: custom endpoints, hooks, interfaces and modules extend the platform in place.

Run it locally, on your own infrastructure, or on Directus Cloud, which provisions a managed project with database, storage and CDN in under ninety seconds. The license is source-available, and organizations under five million dollars in revenue with fewer than fifty employees can use it free through an Open Innovation Grant.