Introduction to Centrali¶

What is Centrali?¶

Centrali is a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that provides everything you need to build modern web applications without managing infrastructure. Think of it as your application's data layer, business logic engine, and automation platform all in one.

Key Capabilities¶

Dynamic Data Management¶

Define your data schemas (Structures) and instantly get a complete CRUD API with: - Automatic validation - Version history tracking - Change logs - Relationships and references - Bulk operations - Secret fields for sensitive data (encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM)

Serverless Compute Functions¶

Write JavaScript functions that: - Process data transformations - Handle business logic - Integrate with external APIs - Run on-demand or via triggers - Execute in a secure sandbox environment

Orchestrations¶

Build multi-step workflows that coordinate complex business processes: - Chain multiple compute functions in sequence - Add conditional logic with decision branches - Introduce delays between steps - React to data changes, schedules, HTTP requests, or run on-demand - Maintain shared context across workflow steps

Event-Driven Automation¶

Automate workflows with triggers that respond to: - Data changes (record created/updated/deleted) - Scheduled times (cron jobs) - Webhook events - Custom events

File Storage¶

Store and manage files with: - Secure file upload/download - Automatic CDN distribution - File metadata management - Access control

Full-Text Search¶

Search across your data with: - Instant indexing - Faceted search - Fuzzy matching - Custom ranking rules

Real-Time Events¶

Stream live updates to your application with: - Server-Sent Events (SSE) for real-time data streaming - WebSocket notifications for instant alerts - Filter events by type and structure

External Authentication (BYOT)¶

Use your existing identity provider for authorization: - Bring Your Own Token from Clerk, Auth0, Okta, or any OIDC provider - Policy-based authorization using JWT claims - No user migration or data synchronization required

AI-Powered Features¶

Leverage AI to improve data quality and operations: - AI Validation - Detect typos, format errors, and duplicates with auto-fix suggestions - Anomaly Insights - AI-powered detection of unusual patterns in your data - Schema Discovery - Automatic schema evolution for dynamic, flexible data

Who Should Use Centrali?¶

Centrali is perfect for:

• Startups building MVPs who need to move fast
• Developers who want to focus on frontend and business logic
• Teams building internal tools and dashboards
• Enterprises needing a flexible data platform
• Agencies managing multiple client applications

What Can You Build?¶

Centrali powers any application that needs:

• Content Management Systems - Blogs, documentation sites, knowledge bases
• E-commerce Platforms - Product catalogs, inventory management, order processing
• SaaS Applications - User management, billing, feature flags
• Internal Tools - Admin panels, dashboards, reporting systems
• Mobile App Backends - User data, push notifications, offline sync
• IoT Applications - Device management, telemetry data, alerts

Core Concepts¶

Before diving in, let's understand Centrali's core concepts:

Structures¶

The schemas that define your data models. Like database tables, but with built-in validation, relationships, and versioning.

Records¶

The actual data entries based on your Structures. Each record has a unique ID, timestamps, and optional version history.

Compute Functions¶

JavaScript functions that run in Centrali's cloud. They can process data, call APIs, and implement your business logic.

Triggers¶

Events that automatically execute your Compute Functions. Triggers can be based on data changes, schedules, or webhooks.

Orchestrations¶

Multi-step workflows that chain compute functions together with conditional logic, delays, and decision branches. Use orchestrations for complex business processes like order processing, approval workflows, and scheduled reports.

Architecture Overview¶

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           Your Application                   │
│  (React, Vue, Mobile, etc.)                 │
└─────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
              │ HTTPS/REST API
              │
┌─────────────▼───────────────────────────────┐
│           Centrali Platform                  │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  • API Gateway                               │
│  • Authentication & Authorization (BYOT)     │
│  • Data Layer (Structures & Records)         │
│  • Compute Runtime                           │
│  • Orchestration Engine                      │
│  • Event Bus & Triggers                      │
│  • File Storage                              │
│  • Search Engine                             │
│  • Real-Time Events (SSE)                    │
│  • AI Validation & Anomaly Detection         │
│  • Notifications (WebSocket)                 │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Next Steps¶

Ready to get started? Here's your journey:

1. Quick Start Guide - Build your first app in 10 minutes
2. Understanding Your Workspace - Your Centrali environment
3. Structures & Records - Data management
4. Writing Compute Functions - Add business logic
5. API Reference - Complete API documentation

Getting Help¶

• Documentation: You're reading it!
• API Reference: Complete API documentation
• Examples: Sample applications
• Support: Contact your administrator

Key Benefits¶

• No Infrastructure Management - Focus on your app, not servers
• Instant APIs - Define a schema, get a complete REST API
• Built-in Security - Authentication, authorization, encryption, and BYOT support
• Workflow Orchestration - Coordinate complex multi-step business processes
• Scalable by Default - Handles growth automatically
• Developer Friendly - RESTful APIs, webhooks, SDKs, and real-time events
• AI-Powered - Built-in data validation, anomaly detection, and schema discovery

Ready to build something amazing? Let's get started!