Corteza

Corteza is a fully open‑source low‑code platform that delivers a modern, scalable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) engine along with a suite of tools for building business process applications. From a developer’s standpoint, it functions as an extensible service layer that exposes its data model and workflow engine through a robust REST/GraphQL API, while also providing a declarative UI builder that can be customized via JSON schemas. The platform is designed to let teams iterate quickly on form, record, and process logic without having to touch the underlying codebase.

Technical Stack & Architecture

The core of Corteza is written in Go (Golang), leveraging its concurrency model and static binaries for efficient runtime. The API layer is built on top of the Echo web framework, and the application follows a micro‑service oriented architecture where each functional domain (auth, accounts, workflows, UI builder) is a separate service that communicates over HTTP/JSON. Data persistence uses PostgreSQL as the primary relational store, with optional extensions such as JSONB columns for dynamic form fields and event logs. For caching and pub/sub, Corteza relies on Redis, while background jobs are processed through a lightweight worker pool that can be scaled horizontally. The UI layer is a React single‑page application that consumes the API and renders form schemas on demand; it is fully modular, allowing developers to replace or extend components via npm packages.

Core Capabilities & APIs

Corteza exposes a comprehensive set of REST endpoints for CRUD operations on modules, records, and users. In addition, it offers a GraphQL endpoint that enables flexible queries across related modules with minimal round‑trips. The workflow engine is programmable via a visual designer that compiles to an executable workflow graph; developers can hook into workflow events using webhooks or custom Go plugins. The platform’s RBAC system is flattened, meaning permissions are evaluated against a single table of grants, making it straightforward to programmatically assign or revoke rights. For integrations, Corteza provides generic connectors (e.g., HTTP, SMTP, LDAP) and a plugin SDK that allows developers to write custom modules or services in Go, which are then compiled into shared libraries and loaded at runtime.

Deployment & Infrastructure

Corteza is container‑first: official Docker images are available on Docker Hub, and a Helm chart simplifies Kubernetes deployments. The services can be run as single‑node binaries for development or as replicated pods in a cluster for production. The platform’s stateless nature (apart from the PostgreSQL and Redis backends) means that scaling can be achieved by adding more API or workflow workers behind a load balancer. Backups are handled via logical dumps of PostgreSQL and snapshots of Redis, while configuration is managed through environment variables or ConfigMaps. The open‑source license (MIT) removes any vendor lock‑in, and the community actively contributes Dockerfiles, Terraform modules, and CI/CD pipelines.

Integration & Extensibility

Corteza’s API‑centric design makes it a natural glue between disparate systems. Developers can expose custom endpoints that consume external services, or write inbound/outbound webhooks to trigger actions in third‑party SaaS. The plugin SDK allows for runtime extensions without redeploying the core; developers can ship Go plugins that add new data types, authentication providers, or UI widgets. For real‑time integration, Corteza publishes events to a Redis Pub/Sub channel, enabling event‑driven architectures. The low‑code UI builder can be overridden by supplying custom React components, giving teams full control over the look and feel while still reusing the underlying data model.

Developer Experience

The documentation is organized into a developer portal that covers API references, SDK usage, and deployment guides. Code quality is maintained with Go’s static analysis tools, evidenced by high coverage metrics on the server side. The community is active on Discourse and GitHub, providing quick support for plugin development or workflow design questions. Configuration is declarative—most settings are exposed as environment variables or JSON files, making it easy to version control and automate provisioning. The platform’s modularity also means that developers can cherry‑pick services (e.g., only the workflow engine) for specialized deployments.

Use Cases

• Rapid CRM Prototyping: Build a fully functional customer database, lead tracking, and communication templates within days using the form builder.
• Business Process Automation: Design complex approval chains, notification workflows, and data transformations with the visual workflow editor.
• Data Integration Hub: Expose internal databases as APIs, or pull data from external services via connectors and expose them through Corteza’s unified schema.
• Custom SaaS Platform: Package a tailored low‑code application for a niche market, leveraging the plugin system to add domain‑specific logic.

Advantages Over Alternatives

Corteza offers performance thanks to Go’s efficient runtime and a stateless API layer that scales horizontally. Its flexibility stems from the ability to write custom Go plugins and override UI components, unlike many proprietary low‑code platforms that lock developers into a closed ecosystem. The licensing is permissive, eliminating recurring costs and enabling on‑prem or private‑cloud deployments. Finally, the platform’s focus on standards (REST/GraphQL, PostgreSQL, Redis) and accessibility (WCAG 2.1 compliance) ensures that it can be integrated into existing stacks with minimal friction.

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