name: insforge description: >- Use this skill whenever writing frontend code that talks to a backend for database queries, authentication, file uploads, AI features, real-time messaging, edge function calls, or sending custom transactional email — especially if the project uses InsForge or @insforge/sdk. Trigger on any of these contexts: querying/inserting/updating/deleting database rows from frontend code, adding login/signup/OAuth/password-reset flows, uploading or downloading files to storage, invoking serverless functions, calling AI chat completions or image generation, subscribing to real-time WebSocket channels, sending welcome/newsletter/notification emails via insforge.emails.send, or writing RLS policies. If the user asks for these features generically (e.g., "add auth to my React app", "fetch data from my database", "upload files", "send a welcome email") and you're unsure whether they use InsForge, consult this skill and ask. For backend infrastructure (creating tables via SQL, deploying functions, CLI commands), use insforge-cli instead. license: MIT metadata: author: insforge version: "1.2.0" organization: InsForge date: February 2026
InsForge SDK Skill
This skill covers client-side SDK integration using @insforge/sdk. For backend infrastructure operations (creating tables, inspecting schema, deploying functions, secrets, managing storage buckets, website deployments, cron job and schedules, logs, etc.), use the insforge-cli skill.
Quick Setup
1. Install the SDK
npm install @insforge/sdk@latest
2. Set up environment variables
Before using the SDK, create a .env file (or .env.local for Next.js) in your project root with your InsForge URL and anon key.
How to get your URL and anon key
Ensure the project is linked. Check for
.insforge/project.jsonin the project root.- If it doesn't exist, run
npx @insforge/cli link(existing project) ornpx @insforge/cli create(new project) to generate it.
- If it doesn't exist, run
Get the anon key via the CLI:
npx @insforge/cli secrets get ANON_KEYGet the URL from the
oss_hostfield in.insforge/project.json(e.g.,https://myapp.us-east.insforge.app).Write both values to the
.envfile using the correct framework prefix (see table below).
Use the correct environment variable prefix and access pattern for your framework:
| Framework | .env file |
Variables | Access Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next.js | .env.local |
NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_URL, NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_* |
| Vite (React, Vue, Svelte) | .env |
VITE_INSFORGE_URL, VITE_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
import.meta.env.VITE_* |
| Astro | .env |
PUBLIC_INSFORGE_URL, PUBLIC_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
import.meta.env.PUBLIC_* |
| SvelteKit | .env |
PUBLIC_INSFORGE_URL, PUBLIC_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
import { env } from '$env/dynamic/public' |
| Create React App | .env |
REACT_APP_INSFORGE_URL, REACT_APP_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
process.env.REACT_APP_* |
| Node.js / Server | .env |
INSFORGE_URL, INSFORGE_ANON_KEY |
process.env.* |
Example .env.local for Next.js:
NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_URL=https://your-appkey.us-east.insforge.app
NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIs...
Important: Never commit
.envfiles to version control. Add.env,.env.local, and.env*.localto your.gitignore(keep.env.examplefor documenting required variables).
3. Initialize the client
import { createClient } from '@insforge/sdk'
// Next.js / CRA: use process.env
const insforge = createClient({
baseUrl: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_URL,
anonKey: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY
})
// Vite / Astro: use import.meta.env
const insforge = createClient({
baseUrl: import.meta.env.VITE_INSFORGE_URL,
anonKey: import.meta.env.VITE_INSFORGE_ANON_KEY
})
Module Reference
| Module | SDK Integration |
|---|---|
| Database | database/sdk-integration.md |
| Auth | auth/sdk-integration.md |
| Storage | storage/sdk-integration.md |
| Functions | functions/sdk-integration.md |
| AI | ai/sdk-integration.md |
| Real-time | realtime/sdk-integration.md |
| email/sdk-integration.md |
What Each Module Covers
| Module | Content |
|---|---|
| Database | CRUD operations, filters, pagination, RPC calls |
| Auth | Sign up/in, OAuth, sessions, profiles, password reset |
| Storage | Upload, download, delete files |
| Functions | Invoke edge functions |
| AI | Chat completions, image generation, embeddings |
| Send custom transactional HTML emails (welcome, newsletter, notifications) | |
| Real-time | Connect, subscribe, publish events |
Guides
| Guide | When to Use |
|---|---|
| database/postgres-rls.md | Writing or reviewing RLS policies — covers infinite recursion prevention, SECURITY DEFINER patterns, performance tips, and common InsForge RLS patterns |
Real-time Configuration
For real-time channels and database triggers, use SQL migrations or database admin tooling to configure channels, triggers, and policies. The real-time SDK is for frontend event handling and messaging, not backend configuration.
Create Database Triggers
Automatically publish events when database records change.
-- Create trigger function
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION notify_order_changes()
RETURNS TRIGGER AS $$
BEGIN
PERFORM realtime.publish(
'order:' || NEW.id::text, -- channel
TG_OP || '_order', -- event: INSERT_order, UPDATE_order
jsonb_build_object(
'id', NEW.id,
'status', NEW.status,
'total', NEW.total
)
);
RETURN NEW;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql SECURITY DEFINER;
-- Attach to table
CREATE TRIGGER order_realtime
AFTER INSERT OR UPDATE ON orders
FOR EACH ROW
EXECUTE FUNCTION notify_order_changes();
Conditional Trigger (Status Changes Only)
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION notify_order_status()
RETURNS TRIGGER AS $$
BEGIN
PERFORM realtime.publish(
'order:' || NEW.id::text,
'status_changed',
jsonb_build_object('id', NEW.id, 'status', NEW.status)
);
RETURN NEW;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql SECURITY DEFINER;
CREATE TRIGGER order_status_trigger
AFTER UPDATE ON orders
FOR EACH ROW
WHEN (OLD.status IS DISTINCT FROM NEW.status)
EXECUTE FUNCTION notify_order_status();
Access Control (RLS)
RLS is disabled by default. To restrict channel access:
- Enable RLS
ALTER TABLE realtime.channels ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;
ALTER TABLE realtime.messages ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;
- Restrict Subscribe (SELECT on channels)
CREATE POLICY "users_subscribe_own_orders"
ON realtime.channels FOR SELECT
TO authenticated
USING (
pattern = 'order:%'
AND EXISTS (
SELECT 1 FROM orders
WHERE id = NULLIF(split_part(realtime.channel_name(), ':', 2), '')::uuid
AND user_id = auth.uid()
)
);
- Restrict Publish (INSERT on messages)
CREATE POLICY "members_publish_chat"
ON realtime.messages FOR INSERT
TO authenticated
WITH CHECK (
channel_name LIKE 'chat:%'
AND EXISTS (
SELECT 1 FROM chat_members
WHERE room_id = NULLIF(split_part(channel_name, ':', 2), '')::uuid
AND user_id = auth.uid()
)
);
- Quick Reference
| Task | SQL |
|---|---|
| Create channel | INSERT INTO realtime.channels (pattern, description, enabled) VALUES (...) |
| Create trigger | CREATE TRIGGER ... EXECUTE FUNCTION ... |
| Publish from SQL | PERFORM realtime.publish(channel, event, payload) |
| Enable RLS | ALTER TABLE realtime.channels ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY |
Best Practices
Create channel patterns first before subscribing from frontend
- Insert channel patterns into
realtime.channelstable - Ensure
enabledis set totrue
- Insert channel patterns into
Use specific channel patterns
- Use wildcard
%patterns for dynamic channels (e.g.,order:%fororder:123) - Use exact patterns for global channels (e.g.,
notifications)
- Use wildcard
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Solution |
|---|---|
| Subscribing to undefined channel pattern | Create channel pattern in realtime.channels first |
| Channel not receiving messages | Ensure channel enabled is true |
| Publishing without trigger | Create database trigger to auto-publish on changes |
Recommended Workflow
1. Create channel patterns → INSERT INTO realtime.channels
2. Ensure enabled = true → Set enabled to true
3. Create triggers if needed → Auto-publish on database changes
4. Proceed with SDK subscribe → Use channel name matching pattern
Backend Configuration (Not Yet in CLI)
These modules still require HTTP API calls because the CLI does not yet support them:
| Module | Backend Configuration |
|---|---|
| Auth | auth/backend-configuration.md |
| AI | ai/backend-configuration.md |
SDK Quick Reference
All SDK methods return { data, error }.
| Module | Methods |
|---|---|
insforge.database |
.from().select(), .insert(), .update(), .delete(), .rpc() |
insforge.auth |
.signUp(), .signInWithPassword(), .signInWithOAuth(), .signOut(), .getCurrentUser() |
insforge.storage |
.from().upload(), .uploadAuto(), .download(), .remove() |
insforge.functions |
.invoke() |
insforge.ai |
.chat.completions.create(), .images.generate(), .embeddings.create() |
insforge.realtime |
.connect(), .subscribe(), .publish(), .on(), .disconnect() |
insforge.emails |
.send({ to, subject, html, cc?, bcc?, from?, replyTo? }) |
Important Notes
- Database inserts require array format:
insert([{...}])notinsert({...}) - Next.js / SSR auth: Use
createClient({ isServerMode: true }), keep tokens in httpOnly cookies, and perform auth flows on the server. See auth/sdk-integration.md - Storage: Save both
urlANDkeyto database for download/delete operations - Functions invoke URL:
/functions/{slug}(without/apiprefix) - Use Tailwind CSS v3.4 (do not upgrade to v4)
- Always local build before deploy: Prevents wasted build resources and faster debugging
- Deprecated packages:
@insforge/react,@insforge/nextjs, and@insforge/react-routerare deprecated. Do NOT install or use them. Use@insforge/sdkdirectly for all features including authentication. - Deployment: Include a
vercel.jsonin the project root for SPA routing (React, React Router apps). Thedownload-templatetool includes this automatically.