Documentation
Everything you need to build and scale your visual backend.
Introduction
Backly is a professional visual workspace designed for engineers to build, simulate, and deploy enterprise-grade Node.js backends. By bridging the gap between visual design and production code, Backly allows you to focus on business logic while we handle the architecture.
Production Ready
Generated code follows MVC patterns with Clean Architecture principles.
Instant Simulation
Test your logic instantly without leaving the builder using our sandbox engine.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to build your first backend in minutes.
1. Define your Database Schema
Start by creating tables in the Schema Builder. Define fields, data types, and constraints (Not Null, Unique, etc.). You can also establish relationships like One-to-Many or Many-to-Many with a few clicks.
2. Create Controllers & Routes
Organize your API endpoints into Controllers. Each route can be configured with specific HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and path parameters.
3. Build Visual Logic
This is where the magic happens. Use the Logic Builder to drag and drop blocks:
- Database Operations (Create, Find, Update)
- Conditional Branching (If/Else)
- Token Authentication (JWT)
- Custom Expressions & Variables
4. Test & Simulate
Click "Try it out" to open the Interactive API Documentation (Swagger). The built-in Simulation Engine will execute your logic against a virtual database, providing real-time logs and responses.
Logic Blocks
Logic blocks are the building blocks of your API. Drag them into the workspace to define your business logic.
Database Operations
Create, Find, Update, and Delete records. You can map incoming request data or environment variables directly to your database columns.
DB.User.create({ email: req.body.email })
Control Flow (If/Else)
Add branching logic based on conditions. Check if a user exists, if a password matches, or if a variable is within a specific range.
Success & Error Responses
Terminate the request with a specific status code and message. Use the "Send Data" block to define the JSON response body.
Simulation Engine
The simulation engine allows you to verify your backend without deploying a single line of code.
Sandbox Environment
Every simulation runs in an isolated sandbox. Your data is persisted during your session but does not affect your production database.
Real-time Debugging
Watch the "Simulation Logs" to see exactly how your data flows through each block. Any DB constraint violation or logic error is highlighted immediately.
Architecture & Export
Backly generates professional, modular Node.js code that follows industry best practices.
"We don't just generate code; we generate clean, maintainable architecture that your team can take over at any time."
Ready to build?
Start building your enterprise-grade backend today with Backly.