Start from an Existing Base44 App

Clone a Base44 app into a separate local project with its own backend on Base44

Use the eject command to clone an app you’ve built with the Base44 app editor into a new Base44 project with a local codebase. The command creates a new backend on Base44 with its own app ID and downloads your code locally, giving you full control over development in your own IDE. Your original app remains in Base44 unchanged.

• The CLI requires Node.js 20.19.0 or higher.
• This guide creates a separate copy of your app as a new project. If you want to develop your existing app locally without creating a separate copy, choose one of these options instead:
  • GitHub integration: Two-way auto-sync with a GitHub repo, requires Builder plan. Best for ongoing local development where you want changes to stay in sync between Base44 and your editor.
  • base44 scaffold: Write backend code locally and deploy manually.

1. Install the CLI

   Install the Base44 CLI globally:

   npm install -g base44@latest
   
2. Eject your app

   Run the eject command:

   base44 eject
   

   If you’re not already logged in, the command will prompt you to authenticate.

   Select the app you want to clone, then choose a destination folder. The CLI creates a new Base44 backend project with a unique app ID and downloads your app’s frontend code and backend resources locally.

When complete, you have:

• New Base44 backend project: A separate backend on Base44 with its own app ID and empty database.
• Local project files:
  • Frontend code: Your app’s React frontend, ready to modify and build.
  • Backend resources: Entity schemas, functions, and configuration files in the base44/ directory.

Your entity schemas are copied to the new project, but data is not. See Work with data to add records.

For details on the generated files, see Project Structure.

When to use eject

Use eject when you:

• Want to develop an existing app in your own IDE with full code control.
• Want to build additional clients that share your backend, such as a mobile app or Chrome extension.
• Need version control workflows beyond the GitHub integration, such as feature branches or pull requests.

If you want to write backend code locally for an existing app without creating a separate copy, use base44 scaffold instead.

Next steps

Now that you have a local project, you can:

• Use the SDK to add more functionality to your frontend.
• Add entities, backend functions, and agents. If you’re working in TypeScript, generate types to get autocomplete and type safety.
• Continue building your frontend and deploy updates with base44 deploy.

See also

• eject command reference: Export your Base44 backend configuration
• Project Structure: How project files are organized
• CLI Command Reference: All available CLI commands