Introducing Mantis: The C++ Backend Framework Built for Simplicity and Speed

In a world dominated by heavyweight frameworks and bloated deployment pipelines, Mantis stands out as a fast, modular C++ backend library designed for simplicity, speed, and embeddability. Whether you're building for the cloud, desktop, or embedded systems, Mantis gives you modern backend capabilities with zero friction.

What Makes Mantis Special?

🚀 Single Binary Deployment

No containers, no dependencies, no problem. Mantis compiles to a single mantisapp binary that runs anywhere—just:

./mantisapp serve -p 8000

It’s ideal for embedded devices, desktop applications, or servers where simplicity is paramount.

Zero-Configuration REST APIs

Define your tables—and that’s it. Mantis auto-generates RESTful CRUD endpoints, complete with JWT-based authentication and fine-grained access control.

🧠 Minimal Runtime Footprint

With SQLite as the default database and tight memory usage, Mantis is engineered for environments where every byte counts.

Key Benefits That Set Mantis Apart

🔧 Embeddable by Design

Unlike traditional backends that require external deployment, Mantis can be embedded directly into your C++ application. Add backend functionality to Qt apps, CLI tools, or microservices—all from within your codebase.

🔐 Built-in Authentication & Security

Mantis handles token generation, validation, and route-level access control using JWT. You get secure, configurable auth out-of-the-box.

📊 Lightweight Admin Dashboard

Each Mantis deployment includes a built-in admin dashboard for managing tables, records, and users—no separate tooling or setup required.

🐳 Docker-Ready

Mantis offers a Docker image with volume mounting support, ideal for containerized environments and CI/CD pipelines.

🛠 Technology Stack

Mantis integrates robust C++ libraries to deliver production-grade performance:

• HTTP Server: httplib-cpp for lightweight HTTP(S) handling
• Database: SOCI as an abstraction layer (SQLite by default; MySQL/PostgreSQL coming soon)
• Authentication: l8w8jwt for secure token management
• Logging: spdlog for structured, high-performance logging

🚧 Future Vision: What’s Coming

Mantis isn’t just stable—it’s growing. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Real-Time Sync Engine
  WebSocket-powered data sync between clients and the backend—perfect for offline-first and collaborative apps.
• Full RDBMS Support
  Extend Mantis from SQLite to full support for MySQL and PostgreSQL with seamless migration tooling.
• Pluggable Middleware Architecture
  Customize request handling with user-defined middleware for logging, validation, authentication, or anything else.

Getting Started is Effortless

You can start using Mantis today in one of two ways:

Option 1: Use Prebuilt Binaries

Available for Linux (x86_64) and Windows (x64)—just download and run.

Option 2: Build From Source

If you're targeting another platform or want to embed Mantis into your own C++ application:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/allankoechke/mantis.git
cd mantis
cmake -B build
cmake --build build
./build/mantisapp serve -p 5000

Access the dashboard at http://localhost:5000/admin.

👉 Read the full setup guide here:
https://allankoechke.github.io/mantis/setup.html

🌟 Why Choose Mantis?

In a space filled with over-engineered solutions, Mantis offers a refreshing alternative: modern backend functionality in a compact, embeddable C++ package. Whether you're targeting embedded devices, developer tools, or just want a backend that won’t get in your way—Mantis delivers.

Ready to Try It?

Explore the GitHub repository, download the binaries, and see what lightweight backend development really feels like.