Convex
Managed database, functions, realtime sync, file storage, and auth helpers
Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- 24-hour operations and support
- managed global infrastructure
- multi-region failover
- DDoS protection and compliance
Why people still pay
Convex: Managed hosting sells a failure domain, on-call team, network, backups, and capacity planning, not merely a deploy button.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- Linux VPS
- Docker
- DNS control
- Explicit README warning that this is a consolation build, not a production replacement
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Project rule, data: Model repositories, builds, deployments, logs, and rollback points; store source IDs and timestamps for each.
Project rule, behavior: For reactive backend, accept a repository revision and a deployment target with declared environment variables.
Project rule, recovery: A failed health check must not replace the last healthy deployment; rollback must recover its exact artifact digest.
Implementation plan
Phase 1, architecture and data
Use exactly this stack: Go 1.24 + Docker + SQLite. Model repositories, builds, deployments, logs, and rollback points; store source IDs and timestamps for each.
Phase 2, implement
For reactive backend, accept a repository revision and a deployment target with declared environment variables.
Phase 3, implement
Build an immutable artifact and record build output, health-check result, and deployment ID.
Phase 4, review and output
Show logs, current revision, and one-click rollback to a known healthy artifact.
Phase 5, recovery and acceptance
Verify this invariant with a saved fixture: A failed health check must not replace the last healthy deployment; rollback must recover its exact artifact digest. State the practical limit: 24-hour operations and support.
Build me a focused reactive backend workflow for the personal core of Convex. Requirements: - Use exactly this stack: Go 1.24 + Docker + SQLite. Model repositories, builds, deployments, logs, and rollback points; store source IDs and timestamps for each. - Paid product context: Managed database, functions, realtime sync, file storage, and auth helpers. Build only this DIY scope: Build a single-server deployment panel for one user that accepts a repository, builds a container, deploys it, shows logs, and supports rollback. - For reactive backend, accept a repository revision and a deployment target with declared environment variables. - Build an immutable artifact and record build output, health-check result, and deployment ID. - Show logs, current revision, and one-click rollback to a known healthy artifact. - Use a focused reactive backend input, review, and export interface. Required input or access: Linux VPS; Docker. - Acceptance: with one labelled sample, show the input, saved intermediate state, and exported result; verify this invariant: A failed health check must not replace the last healthy deployment; rollback must recover its exact artifact digest. - Out of scope: 24-hour operations and support; managed global infrastructure. Keep this a personal, inspectable workflow. - Include a README with setup, a sample input, required keys or permissions, data location, and the supported scope.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan
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Alternatives to building your own
all 4 free alternatives to Convex →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Convex pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | 1-6 developers; 40 deployments; 0.5 GB database; 1 GB database I/O/month; 1M function calls/month; 20 action GB-hours; 1 GB files and 1 GB egress.S16 limits include 1,000 concurrent sessions, 16 concurrent queries and 64 concurrent actions. |
| starter | $0/workspace | — | Same free included quotas and 1-6 developers/40 deployments, then pay as you go above them.No base subscription, but this is not an unlimited free tier. |
| professional | $25/user | — | 1-20 developers; 300 deployments; 25M function calls; 250 action GB-hours; 50 GB database storage and I/O; 100 GB files; 50 GB egress.S256 resource class. |
| business / enterprise | $2500/workspace | — | $2,500 monthly minimum with custom included allocations and dedicated terms.Annual commitment discounts are available. |
free tier1-6 developers, 40 deployments, 0.5 GB database, 1 GB database I/O/month, 1M function calls/month, 20 action GB-hours, 1 GB files and 1 GB egress
billingFree and Starter have no base fee; Professional is monthly; annual commitment discounts are limited to Business/Enterprise
hidden costsOverages meter each resource separately. Starter rates include $2.20/M calls, $0.33/action-GB-hour, $0.22/GB database storage, $0.033/GB files and $0.132/GB egress; Professional rates are lower. EU-region usage is priced at 1.3x US.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-14 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Convex
Can you build your own Convex with AI?
A full replacement is not the recommended project. Do not mistake the interface for the product. Convex's durable value is infrastructure, uptime, operations, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
What does the Convex build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Build a single-server deployment panel for one user that accepts a repository, builds a container, deploys it, shows logs, and supports rollback. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: 24-hour operations and support; managed global infrastructure; multi-region failover. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Convex prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Convex project take?
The catalogue estimate is not a true replacement; consolation build in one to two days for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Convex?
24-hour operations and support; managed global infrastructure; multi-region failover; DDoS protection and compliance. Convex: Managed hosting sells a failure domain, on-call team, network, backups, and capacity planning, not merely a deploy button.
What can I use instead of building Convex?
Supabase: Database, functions, realtime, files, and auth in one self-hosted stack; SQL replaces Convex's document model. Appwrite: Auth, database, storage, realtime, and functions behind one polished console; the Compose file is doing a lot. Nhost: Postgres plus GraphQL, auth, storage, functions, and realtime; closer to Firebase than most Firebase alternatives. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/convex/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.