ILLA Builder

ILLA Builder is an open-source, low-code platform for building internal tools, positioned as an open-source alternative to Retool. Developers assemble tools by dragging pre-built components onto a canvas and wiring them to data sources, instead of writing a full internal app from scratch. The project can be used through ILLA Cloud or self-hosted with Docker or Kubernetes.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop UI builder: Assemble internal tools by dragging components such as tables, charts, and forms onto a canvas, with automatic layout adjustment when components overlap.
• Data connectors: Connect to MySQL or REST APIs through built-in GUI data connectors, with more databases and APIs planned.
• Real-time collaboration: Multiple developers can build in the same tool simultaneously.
• Automation support: Connect components and actions together to automate workflows.
• ILLA Design component library: The builder is powered by ILLA Design, a separate open-source component library.
• Self-hosted deployment: Deploy with Docker, docker-compose, or Kubernetes via the ILLA CLI.

How it works

Building a tool in ILLA Builder follows four steps: connect to a database or REST API, drag components onto the canvas to build the UI (components reflow automatically as you add more), wire those components to your data, and deploy the finished app. The default self-hosted login after setup is the username root with password password, which should be changed after first login.

Self-hosting and deployment

The ILLA CLI is the primary path to self-hosting; full instructions are in the self-hosted deployment docs, and Docker and Kubernetes are both supported. ILLA Builder is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

Community and translations

ILLA Builder's interface is available in English, Simplified Chinese, German, and Japanese, with translations kept current through Crowdin so contributors don't need to touch code to help localize the project. The README itself is maintained in the same set of languages. For teams that would rather not manage their own instance, ILLA Cloud offers a hosted version of the builder without any self-hosting setup.

Components and data sources

The builder currently ships GUI connectors for MySQL databases and REST APIs, with the project stating more databases and APIs are being added. Components cover the common building blocks of an internal tool, including tables, charts, and forms, and are pulled from ILLA Design, a companion open-source component library maintained alongside the builder itself. The project also participates in Hacktoberfest, which is reflected directly in its GitHub topics.