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OpenBuild

Citizen-developer app builder for Nextcloud. Compose a working app from typed registers, connectors, workflows, and document templates — then edit it live, from inside the running app. No code, no second platform, no separate build step.

What you get​

  • A template catalogue of curated starters (CRM, intake form, asset register, help desk) plus the blank-app option — administrators decide what's offered.
  • In-app editing — open your app and edit it where it runs: switch a page into edit mode with the OpenBuild button, drag/resize widgets, add new ones, configure each one, and edit the app's pages, menu, sidebar and data — all without leaving the page. See Build your app in-app.
  • A widget library — drop Data, Object relations, tables, charts, KPIs, object lists, files and more onto any page, and configure what each shows. See the Widgets reference.
  • A schema designer: define your data model field by field, backed by OpenRegister typed registers. No migrations.
  • Data wiring: connect a register, an OpenConnector connector, an n8n workflow, or a DocuDesk template — the app reads and writes through OpenRegister abstractions.
  • Version snapshots: snapshot the whole app and roll back a bad edit. Export the bundle as a ZIP at any time.
  • RBAC: administrators control who can build, and per-record access is enforced through OpenRegister.

How building works​

OpenBuild apps are manifest-driven: an app is a JSON manifest (pages, menu, widgets, data bindings) that the runtime renders live. You don't generate code or redeploy — you edit the manifest and the running app reflects it.

The primary way to edit is in-app. Every page carries an Edit with OpenBuild button (the orange cube). Click it to:

  • Edit page — turn the current page into an editable grid: drag, resize, configure, and Add widget.
  • Edit pages / menu / sidebar / actions / settings — manage the app's structure.
  • Edit data — manage the app's register and schemas.

A detail page with the Edit with OpenBuild button

The OpenBuild edit menu

The standalone designer surfaces (/apps/openbuild/builder/<slug>/pages and /schemas) still exist for power users, but in-app editing is the recommended way to build and the focus of these docs.

Getting started​

Install OpenBuild from the Nextcloud app store or enable it in your Nextcloud admin settings. Then open the app, pick a template (or start blank), open a page, and hit Edit with OpenBuild.

For step-by-step walkthroughs, see the Tutorials in the sidebar — the User guide covers building an app in-app, the Admin guide covers RBAC, the template catalogue, and OpenBuild settings. The Widgets reference lists every widget you can add, and the integrator-guide, openbuild-rbac, and openbuild-runtime pages cover the deeper mechanics.