Most AI app builders stop at the frontend. You get a nice-looking UI, but the moment you need a database, authentication, or server-side logic, you are on your own. Dyad is a supabase ai app builder that handles the full stack. You describe what you want in a chat prompt, and it generates a working app connected to a real Supabase backend, with auth, a PostgreSQL database, Row-Level Security policies, and edge functions.
What You Need Before Starting
- Dyad installed on your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine
- A free Supabase account
- An API key from at least one AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or a local model via Ollama)
Dyad is open-source and free to use. You bring your own API keys, so there are no subscriptions or token limits from Dyad itself.
Step 1: Connect Supabase to Dyad
Dyad uses a one-click OAuth flow to connect your Supabase account.
- Open Dyad and create a new app (or open an existing one).
- In the chat, ask for something that needs a backend. For example: "Add user authentication and a database for storing tasks."
- Dyad will detect that you need Supabase and prompt you to connect. Click the Connect Supabase button.
- Your browser opens. Authorize Dyad to access your Supabase organization.
- You are redirected back to Dyad. The connection is complete.
Your Supabase access token is stored locally on your machine. Only you can access your Supabase resources through Dyad.
After connecting, select a Supabase project for this app. You can reuse an existing project, but creating a separate project per app keeps things cleaner.
Step 2: Add Authentication
With Supabase connected, adding auth is one prompt:
Add user authentication. Users should sign up and log in with email and password.
Dyad generates the sign-up and login pages, wires up Supabase Auth, and handles the session state. The code uses the Supabase JavaScript client library, so it follows standard patterns you can modify later.
Keep in mind that Supabase requires email confirmation by default. You can disable this in your Supabase dashboard under Authentication > Providers > Email if you want faster testing.
Step 3: Create a Database with Row-Level Security
Ask for the data model you need:
Create a "projects" table where each user can only see and edit their own projects. Each project has a name, description, and status.
Dyad creates the table in your Supabase PostgreSQL database and generates Row-Level Security (RLS) policies so users can only access their own data. RLS policies run at the database level, which means even if someone bypasses your frontend, the data stays protected.
Dyad usually generates reasonable default RLS policies, but you should review them in your Supabase dashboard. For apps with shared data or team-based access, you will likely need to adjust the policies to match your specific rules.
This is where a supabase ai app builder saves the most time. Writing RLS policies from scratch requires understanding PostgreSQL policy syntax. Dyad generates working policies from a plain-English description of who should see what.
Step 4: Add Server-Side Logic with Edge Functions
Some tasks should not run in the browser. Calling third-party APIs with private keys, processing payments, or sending emails all need server-side code. Supabase Edge Functions handle this.
Add an edge function that calls the OpenAI API to summarize a project description. Keep the API key on the server.
Dyad creates the edge function in your project's supabase/functions/ directory and deploys it to Supabase. The function runs on Supabase's infrastructure, not in the browser, so your API keys stay private.
Shared Modules
As your app grows, you will have code that multiple edge functions need, like a database client setup or utility functions. Dyad supports shared modules by placing common code in supabase/functions/_shared/. This keeps your edge functions maintainable as the project scales.
Automatic Deployment and Cleanup
When you undo or restore a previous version in Dyad, all Supabase edge functions are automatically redeployed to match that version. Dyad also removes stale edge functions that no longer exist in your code, so your Supabase project does not accumulate dead functions over time.
Step 5: Keep Building with Chat
Once the foundation is in place, you can keep adding features through chat prompts. A few examples:
- "Add a dashboard that shows project statistics for the logged-in user."
- "Let users invite collaborators to a project by email."
- "Add a Stripe checkout flow using an edge function."
Each prompt builds on the existing Supabase setup. Dyad has context on your database schema, auth configuration, and existing edge functions, so it can add features without breaking what already works.
Managing Multiple Supabase Accounts
If you work on apps for different clients or organizations, Dyad supports multiple Supabase accounts. You can connect more than one account and switch between them without disconnecting and reconnecting each time. This is available in Settings > Integrations.
Why This Works as a Supabase AI App Builder
A few things make this approach practical rather than just a demo.
Standard code output. Dyad generates regular TypeScript and SQL. There is no proprietary abstraction layer. You can open the project in VS Code, push it to GitHub, or hand it to a developer. The Supabase integration uses the official Supabase client libraries.
Local-first. Dyad runs on your machine. Your code stays in a local directory. Version history is Git-based. If you stop using Dyad, the code and the Supabase project both continue to work.
Model flexibility. You can use whichever AI model works best for your task. Claude for complex database logic, GPT for UI work, Gemini for quick iterations, or a local model via Ollama for offline development.
Debugging support. Dyad aggregates logs from your app and your Supabase edge functions in one view. When something breaks, you can share the error with the AI and get a fix in the same chat session.
Limitations to Know About
- Dyad generates default RLS policies, but complex access patterns (multi-tenant, role-based, team hierarchies) will need manual review and adjustment.
- Supabase Edge Functions can take a moment to deploy. If you have many functions, undo and restore operations will be slower.
- Supabase's free tier has limits on database size, edge function invocations, and bandwidth. Check the Supabase pricing page for current limits.
What You End Up With
After following these steps, you have a full-stack app with user authentication, a PostgreSQL database with row-level security, and server-side functions, all generated from chat prompts. The code is standard, portable, and yours to keep.
If you have been looking for a supabase ai app builder that does not lock you into a proprietary platform, Dyad is worth trying. It is open-source, runs locally, and produces code you can take anywhere.
Download Dyad at dyad.sh and connect your Supabase account to start building.
