InstantDB — Postgres in one click
InstantDB spins up a managed Postgres instance right from the IDE: one button, a few seconds, and you've got a working connection to a fresh database. No Docker, no provider sign-ups, no manual networking.
The feature is currently in Free Beta — free, no cards, no limit on how many you create.
When to use it
- Quick query test — you need a clean Postgres for 10 minutes to check a query, a migration, or an extension.
- Demo — show a colleague how the IDE works without touching real infrastructure.
- Learning — practise SQL, jsonb, pgvector, or EXPLAIN with nothing at risk.
- Schema sketch — draft tables and relationships before porting them to a real connection.
InstantDB is not meant for persistent data — see Lifetime and limits below.
Create an instance
- Open the new-connection form: + in the left sidebar or ⌘+K → Create connection.
- In the empty state of the form you'll see the line "or spin up a temporary test DB in seconds" with an Instant DB button (badge:
FREE BETA).
- Click it. The IDE shows "Creating…" and after a few seconds auto-fills the connection fields: host, port, database, user, password.
- Optionally rename the connection (default:
ide99 Instant DB).
- Click Save. The connection shows up in the left sidebar — open the SQL editor and start working.
Connection details are managed by Instant DB and cannot be changed. You can rename the row above.
What you get
| Property |
Value |
| Type |
Full PostgreSQL 17 (not SQLite/emulator) |
| Access |
Over the network, TLS-encrypted |
| Connection |
Host, port, database, user, password — all auto-filled |
| Permissions |
Full: create schemas, tables, extensions, roles |
| Isolation |
Dedicated database and role per instance |
Because it's real Postgres, every ide99 feature works against it: EXPLAIN visualizer, JSONB editor, migrations, pgvector.
Lifetime and limits
InstantDB is for temporary databases, not long-term storage.
- Default TTL: 1 hour. After it expires, the instance and its data are deleted automatically.
- One active instance per device. To create a new one, delete the old one first (see below).
- TTL extension: while the connection is open in the IDE, ide99 keeps the instance alive automatically.
If the data is valuable, move it to a permanent connection via logical backup (pg_dump → pg_restore) or INSERT ... SELECT into another database.
Delete an instance
- Right-click the connection in the left sidebar → Delete connection. The IDE removes both the connection and the InstantDB instance itself.
- Or just wait for the TTL — the instance is removed automatically.
Security
- Every instance gets unique credentials; nobody else can access your database.
- Credentials are stored in the OS keychain like any other connection (see Privacy & telemetry).
- All traffic is TLS-encrypted.
- Don't use InstantDB for personal data, secrets, or production workloads.
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Right now — free, no cards, no accounts. InstantDB is in Free Beta.
Can I connect to an InstantDB instance from another tool (psql, DBeaver)?
Yes. The credentials are standard Postgres — copy them from the connection form. The instance still expires when the TTL runs out.
What if I close the IDE — does the database stay?
It stays until the TTL expires. If you plan to come back, keep the connection open in an active IDE session — the TTL is extended automatically.
Can I extend the TTL manually?
Not yet. The TTL is fixed during Free Beta.
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