How to Build Your Own Gel (EdgeDB)
Replace Gel (EdgeDB) with a custom build. Postgres Unchained
Build Difficulty: 4/5
A few focused days to build a solid replacement
Estimated Timeline
Based on 43 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 43 features
Developer Tools(8 features)
Vertically integrated admin panel for data and schema management
Comprehensive CLI for schema migrations, data dump/restore, GUI access, and REPL with multiple installation options
Zero-config, auto-recovery from network errors, automatic connection pooling and caching for Python, TypeScript, Go, Dart, Rust, .NET, and Java
Generate type-safe code from .edgeql files in any language with strict typing for bug reduction
Built-in UI for schema browsing, data editing, query IDE, visual query builder, web-REPL, and query performance visualization
+3 more in this category
Schema Management(6 features)
Schema annotation support for metadata and custom properties
Interactive migrations with guided user-friendly workflow, flexible changes, and schema history browsing
Support for polymorphic types and advanced type system features
Purpose-built migration system with branching, prototyping, squashing tweaks, and custom steps
Database trigger support for automated event handling
+1 more in this category
Authentication(5 features)
SDKs for Python and TypeScript for authentication implementation
Sign-in and sign-up forms included out of the box with option to build custom UI
Email/password and magic links authentication method
Multiple OAuth integrations for third-party authentication
WebAuthn passkeys support for passwordless authentication
Query Language(5 features)
Fast, readable, composable, graph-relational language combining SQL and GraphQL with superpowers
Hierarchical selects, inserts, updates with link traversal without JOINs or NULL values, easily composable queries
Native GraphQL support included by default with flexible GraphQL queries
Use standard SQL or plug into favorite ORM with Drizzle partnership for top-tier JavaScript ORM experience
Super-flexible builder with unparalleled composability and type safety
AI(4 features)
Schema-driven embeddings creation with automatic storage and indexing
Gels with OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral and custom LLM providers with flexible provider selection
Native RAG endpoint for AI-driven insights with admin UI for rapid testing
GenAI-ready vector store with configurable automatic embeddings
Performance(4 features)
Built-in server and client connection pooling with zero-config setup
Better performance than SQL with no extra network roundtrips for low latency
Visual representation of query performance metrics and analysis
Built-in analysis and monitoring of slow queries for performance optimization
Infrastructure(3 features)
Currently runs on AWS with plans to expand to additional cloud providers
Encryption at rest, automated backups, monitoring, and ability to export to vanilla Postgres
Fully managed, high availability database with automated maintenance and monitoring
Integrations(3 features)
Compatible with most business intelligence solutions for data analysis
GitHub and Vercel previews integration for managing deployments from PR workflow
Seamless integration with Vercel for automatic preview deployments and zero-configuration setup
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying Gel (EdgeDB)
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 43 features at easy complexity.