Architecture Review: Simpl

Simpl claims to be “A pleasant Postgres browser for working with real production data.” It positions itself as the antidote to clunky enterprise database tools (like pgAdmin) and the fatigue of building custom admin panels for every side project. Let’s look under the hood.

🛠️ The Tech Stack

Simpl is a modern web-based SaaS that acts as a secure proxy to your PostgreSQL database. Unlike native desktop clients (Electron/Tauri), this runs entirely in the browser.

• Core Framework: Next.js. The maker explicitly cites shipping 10+ products on the “Next.js + Postgres” stack as the inspiration. The tool likely leverages Server Actions or API routes to handle the database connections securely on the server side, preventing direct browser-to-DB exposure (which is impossible via standard TCP without a WebSocket bridge).
• Database Interaction: Standard PostgreSQL drivers (likely pg or postgres.js) used for schema introspection and query execution.
• Security: AES-256 encryption is used for connection strings. Since it is a web-based tool, it likely encrypts credentials before storing them (either in a secure session or encrypted database record) to ensure “no data stored on our servers” beyond the necessary transient states.
• UI/UX: Likely Tailwind CSS for the “pleasant” interface, focusing on clean, type-aware filtering and relationship navigation.

💰 Pricing Model

Simpl rejects the standard SaaS subscription fatigue in favor of a traditional software licensing model.

• Paid (One-Time): $49 lifetime access.
• No Subscription: You pay once and get unlimited connections.
• Free Tier: There is no permanent free tier mentioned; the “Free Options” tag on Product Hunt likely refers to a limited demo or is a misclassification. The value proposition is explicitly “pay once, own it forever” (functionally).

⚖️ Architect’s Verdict

Simpl is a Wrapper, but a highly polished one that solves a specific “Papercut Problem.”

It does not introduce “Deep Tech” (innovative database engines or novel protocols). Instead, it wraps standard SQL introspection and querying capabilities into a UX layer that feels native to a modern web developer’s workflow.

Developer Use Case: This is Production Ready for Indie Hackers and Solo Developers.

• Use it if: You are tired of context-switching to heavy desktop apps like DBeaver just to check a user_id or fix a typo in a production row. It replaces the “quick and dirty admin panel” you usually build for internal tools.
• Skip it if: You need deep DBA capabilities (complex query analysis, heavy migration management, tunneling through bastions without public IP access) or if your security compliance forbids passing connection strings to third-party web domains.