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Introduction

Welcome to NetPad — a comprehensive, open-source platform for building MongoDB-connected applications that combine data collection, workflow automation, and AI-powered experiences—all without writing code.

Form Builder Landing Page
NetPad Form Builder Landing Page

What is NetPad?​

NetPad empowers you to build complete, production-ready applications in minutes, not weeks. Think of NetPad as a platform for creating Applications—complete solutions that solve business problems by combining forms, workflows, and data management into cohesive experiences.

Whether you need a customer feedback portal, an IT helpdesk system, an employee onboarding application, or a data collection platform, NetPad lets you build the entire application without backend development.

Applications-First Approach​

In NetPad, Applications are first-class entities that organize everything you build:

  • Forms: Data collection interfaces (traditional, search, or conversational)
  • Workflows: Automation that processes data and integrates with external systems
  • Connections: Links between forms and workflows that create end-to-end processes
  • Releases: Versioned snapshots of your complete application

Applications provide organization, versioning, sharing, and access control. You can publish applications to the marketplace, export them as packages, and manage them as complete solutions rather than individual components.

Core Value Propositions​

Zero to Production in Minutes​

  • Build complete applications by combining forms, workflows, and connections
  • Start from templates: 25+ form templates and 5+ workflow templates
  • Import from marketplace: Discover and install pre-built applications
  • No backend development required

Your Data, Your Control​

  • Connect to any MongoDB instance (Atlas, self-hosted, or cloud)
  • Automatic M0 cluster provisioning for new users
  • Export data anytime (JSON, CSV)
  • Full data ownership and portability

Enterprise-Ready Security​

  • Field-level encryption with MongoDB Queryable Encryption
  • Secure connection vault with encrypted credentials
  • Role-based access control at application level
  • Bot protection with Turnstile CAPTCHA
  • Audit logging and compliance features

AI-Powered Productivity​

  • Conversational Forms: AI-powered natural language data collection
  • Knowledge-Guided AI: RAG-powered forms that answer questions using your documents
  • 12+ AI Agents: Form generation, optimization, compliance, translation, and insights
  • Template Admin System: Full template management for conversational experiences
  • Auto-suggestions: Real-time field suggestions and validation rules

Four Core Capabilities​

NetPad applications are built using four powerful capabilities:

1. Forms​

Create beautiful, functional data collection interfaces with our visual form builder. Support for 30+ field types, conditional logic, validation rules, and seamless MongoDB integration. Includes:

  • Data Entry Forms: Traditional CRUD forms for collecting new data
  • Search Forms: Query and filter existing data with smart operators
  • Conversational Forms: AI-powered natural language data collection
  • Multi-Page Wizards: Step-by-step forms with progress tracking

2. Workflows​

Automate processes with our visual workflow editor. Build complex automation workflows using drag-and-drop nodes, triggers, and integrations. Connect forms to workflows to create complete application flows.

3. Data Management​

Browse and manage MongoDB collections visually. Import, export, search, and edit your data with an intuitive interface. Secure connection vault with encrypted credentials. Build search interfaces and data exploration tools.

4. AI & Conversational Experiences​

Transform data collection with AI-powered conversational forms and intelligent automation. Natural language data collection, knowledge-guided RAG capabilities, 12+ AI agents for optimization and insights, and template management system.

Building Applications​

Application Structure​

A typical NetPad application includes:

Application: Customer Portal
├── Forms
│   ├── Contact Form (data entry)
│   ├── Support Ticket Form (conversational)
│   └── Customer Search (search form)
├── Workflows
│   ├── Email Notification Workflow
│   └── Ticket Routing Workflow
└── Connections
    ├── Contact Form → Email Notification
    └── Support Ticket → Ticket Routing

Application Lifecycle​

  1. Create Application: Start with a new application or template
  2. Add Forms: Build data collection interfaces
  3. Add Workflows: Automate processes and integrations
  4. Connect Components: Link forms to workflows
  5. Create Release: Version your application with semantic versioning
  6. Publish: Share to marketplace or export as package

Quick Start​

Ready to get started? Check out our Quick Start Guide to create your first application in minutes.

You can:

  • Start from a template: Browse 25+ form templates and application templates
  • Import from marketplace: Install pre-built applications
  • Build from scratch: Create custom applications with forms and workflows

Getting Help​

NetPad includes a comprehensive, context-aware help system accessible from anywhere:

  • Press Cmd + / (Mac) or Ctrl + / (Windows/Linux) to open help search
  • The help system automatically shows topics relevant to your current page
  • Browse 100+ help topics covering all platform features
  • Look for ? icons near complex features for context-sensitive help

See In-App Help for more details on using the help system.

Choose Your Deployment​

NetPad supports three deployment modes:

  • Cloud (netpad.io) - Fully managed SaaS, zero infrastructure to manage
  • Self-Hosted - Run on your infrastructure with full data control
  • Standalone - Export apps to run completely independently

See Deployment Modes to choose the right option for your needs.

Next Steps​