Directus

Directus is an open-source, self-hosted web app and server that provides a data platform for managing SQL databases. It functions as a headless CMS and API engine, wrapping existing databases with a management interface and API layers without requiring a proprietary data format. This approach allows teams to maintain their data in a standard SQL format while gaining the benefits of a modern content management system.

Users deploy Directus as a server on their own infrastructure, locally, or via a managed cloud service. It is designed for teams that need to provide non-technical users with a visual interface to manage live data while allowing engineers to maintain full control over the underlying database schema. By removing the need for boilerplate code or manual API configuration, it serves as a backend-as-a-service for various application types.

Key features

• Automatic generation of REST and GraphQL APIs from the database schema
• Visual Studio interface for data management and content creation
• Native MCP server for connecting AI agents to live data
• Policy-based access control with field-level permissions
• Support for multiple SQL databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite
• Embedded AI Assistant for content creation and translation
• Extensibility through custom endpoints, hooks, and modules

Built with Node.js and Vue, the software connects directly to the database rather than mirroring it. This architecture allows it to integrate with a wide range of SQL dialects, including MariaDB, MS SQL, OracleDB, and CockroachDB. The platform includes a built-in AI Assistant and a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, ensuring that AI agents operate under the same role-based permissions as human users. This governance ensures that AI tools cannot access data beyond the permissions assigned to their specific role.

Directus is a collaborative backend for developers and AI agents who require a database-first approach to content management and application development.