Where should vibe-coded internal apps live? A 24-option comparison for non-devs
Marmelab · reddit · 2026-10-22
Marmelab addresses a growing workplace problem: non-developer colleagues build internal apps with Claude Code, then questions arise — where does it live, who can log in, where's the data, does IT know? The author defines the needs (per-app backend with company SSO, frontend hosting, deploy-from-tool, IT inventory with kill switch, low per-app cost, data residency) and compares 24 options in four families:
- SaaS builders (Lovable, Bolt, Replit): fastest for non-devs, but none run on your own infrastructure and externally built apps can't get in
- Vendor platforms (Microsoft, ServiceNow, Databricks, Snowflake): strongest IT control, but vendor lock-in; only Retool can be self-hosted
- Open-source backends: only Nubase, PocketBase+PocketHost and Appwrite host dozens of apps on one server, each with trade-offs; Supabase is best known by AI tools but self-hosted needs a full stack per project and no frontend hosting
- Build your own: the only option that checks every box — a first version takes one dev 2 weeks with Claude Code, at the cost of becoming your own vendor for upgrades, patches and backups
He notes most of these offerings launched or changed in 2026, and asks where vibe-coded apps live in other companies.
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