Local Development
Run your entire backend locally with a single command. All your microservices, databases, pub/sub, and distributed tracing work on your machine without Docker Compose or manual setup.
One command, everything running
Run encore run and your entire application starts: all your microservices, PostgreSQL databases provisioned, migrations applied, pub/sub queues running, and a local dashboard with distributed tracing.
This works for systems of any size, from a single service to hundreds of microservices. No Docker Compose, no manual setup, no YAML configuration.
Production-like infrastructure, locally
The local environment mirrors production. When you define a database in code, it runs locally. Pub/sub topics work locally. Cron jobs fire on schedule. No surprises when you deploy.
All Your Microservices
Run hundreds of services with a single command, no Docker Compose needed
PostgreSQL Databases
Real PostgreSQL instances with your migrations applied automatically
Pub/Sub Queues
In-memory message queues that behave like cloud pub/sub
Distributed Tracing
See request flows across services in the local dashboard
API Explorer
Test endpoints directly from the browser with type-aware forms
Hot Reload
Code changes take effect immediately without restarting
Debug with production-quality tools
The local development dashboard at localhost:9400 includes distributed tracing, API explorer, and service catalog. Debug with production-quality tools from day one.
- ✓Trace requests across services
- ✓See SQL queries with timing
- ✓Inspect pub/sub messages
- ✓Test APIs with generated forms
Build faster with AI coding assistants
Encore's local development environment works seamlessly with AI coding assistants. With MCP integration and Encore-specific rules, AI understands your architecture and can generate code that works with your local infrastructure.
Test AI-generated code instantly with real databases, pub/sub queues, and services running locally. You get immediate feedback with actual infrastructure, not mocks.
Learn about AI-powered development →
