Shard is a new kind of data workspace — part terminal, part dashboard, part playground. It pairs managed Postgres databases (one per Shard) with a clean, modern UI for building tables, automations, and simple charts without wiring up a full app.

We’re launching Shard in Early Access. During this period, Shard is completely free to use. We’re moving fast, listening closely, and shaping the roadmap with your feedback.

What is Shard?

At its core, Shard is a lightweight database workspace that makes it easy to:

  • Create and manage data in Postgres tables with a spreadsheet-like interface
  • Automate workflows with event-driven rules that respond to inserts and updates
  • Visualize trends with simple line charts
  • Drop down to full SQL whenever you need precision and power

If you’ve ever wished you could get a “just right” stack for internal tools, data entry, and quick automations — without provisioning servers or writing boilerplate — Shard is for you.

What you can do today

You can use Shard right now to build practical, production-friendly workflows:

  • Tables: Create tables, add columns, edit cells inline, paginate through large datasets, and import CSVs. See: /docs/how-to/tables
  • Automations: Run actions when rows are inserted or updated using JSON-logic predicates; send webhooks and more. See: /docs/how-to/automations
  • Charts: Build lightweight line charts to monitor key metrics, with a Live mode for periodic refresh. See: /docs/how-to/charts
  • Export: One-click export of your entire Shard to a Postgres-compatible SQL file. See: /docs/how-to/export

It’s fast, ergonomic, and built for real-world data work.

Real-world ways to use Shard

Shard shines when you want a database-backed workflow without the overhead of a full app. With Automations today and Forms coming soon, it’s perfect for:

A modern Microsoft Access alternative

Microsoft Access is fading from the roadmap, but the need hasn’t gone away. Shard is a modern, browser-based alternative for data-entry tools and small internal systems. Examples:

  • Orders, inventory, and asset registers
  • Issue and ticket trackers for small teams
  • Contact lists, vendors, and basic CRM records

Use tables for structure, Automations to trigger webhooks or create related rows, and (soon) Forms to give teammates a friendly data-entry surface.

Personal tracking and lightweight lists

Manage home inventory, collections, expenses, book logs, or even a basic to-do list. Keep it simple, then layer on Automations to, for example, ping a webhook when an item’s status changes or a due date passes.

Create a waitlist in minutes

Create a table for signups, add a few columns (name, email, source, notes), and wire an Automation to send a webhook to your email service or CRM when a new row is added. Forms will make capture even more seamless.

Questionnaires and surveys

Spin up a schema for responses, capture entries (via CSV import now; Forms soon), and analyze with a simple chart. Automate notifications or routing when certain answers match your predicate.

Internal enterprise forms without the heavy lift

Sometimes you don’t need a bespoke app — you need a secure place to store data and a clean form to collect it. Shard gives you the database, structure, and automation hooks to get it done quickly.

What’s coming next

We’re shipping quickly. Here’s what’s on the near-term roadmap:

  • Forms (in progress): The critical piece for data capture and workflow onboarding
  • Formatting: Better display and formatting controls for columns and cells
  • Share tables: Simple, safe ways to share data with teammates
  • Live feeds: Stream fast-moving data (e.g., stock tickers, aircraft positions) into charts and tables

If a capability matters to your workflow, tell us — we’re prioritizing based on real use cases.

Early Access — free while we build together

Shard is in Early Access and completely free to use during this period. Create a Shard, add tables, wire up automations, and start exploring. We’ll make it easy to export your data at any time.

Tell us what to build next

Your feedback will shape Shard. Share ideas, report issues, and tell us about your workflows in GitHub Discussions:

Thanks for reading — and welcome to Shard.