At a Glance:
Evidence is an open-source, code-based alternative to drag-and-drop BI tools that generates a static reporting website from markdown files containing SQL queries and chart components, with templated pages and self-hosting options.
Overview:
Evidence is an open-source business intelligence tool that takes a code-based, markdown-driven approach to report generation. It works by converting markdown files—where SQL statements run directly against connected data sources—into a fully static reporting website. Charts and data components are rendered from query results, and templated pages allow users to generate multiple report pages from a single markdown template. The output can be published to common static site hosting platforms, including Netlify, Vercel, or a user's own infrastructure. Evidence is designed for analysts and developers who prefer version-controlled, code-first BI workflows over traditional drag-and-drop interfaces.
Key Decision Points:
Code-first, not drag-and-drop: All reports are built using SQL and markdown, making this tool suited for users who want their BI work to be version-controlled and coded rather than configured through a GUI.
Static site output: Evidence generates a static website that can be hosted on platforms like Netlify, Vercel, or your own infrastructure, meaning no application server is required to serve reports.
Templating capabilities: Templated pages, loops, and If/Else logic allow a single markdown file to generate multiple report pages with dynamic content display, reducing duplication in large reporting projects.
Self-hosted deployment: The generated site can be deployed to static hosting infrastructure you control, which is relevant for teams that need to keep reporting output within their own environment.
Core Features:
SQL in markdown: Write SQL queries directly inside markdown files that run against your data sources to produce live report content.
Chart and component rendering: Display query results as visual charts and data components directly in the generated report pages.
Templated pages: Produce multiple pages from a single markdown template, avoiding repetitive work when reports share a common structure.
Loops and conditional logic: Control content display using loops and If/Else statements within markdown templates.
Use Cases:
Analysts who want to build version-controlled BI reports using SQL and markdown instead of drag-and-drop tools.
Developers looking to generate a static reporting website that can be deployed to existing static hosting infrastructure.
Teams that need to generate multiple structured report pages from a single template and display query results conditionally.
Open-Source Alternative Value:
Evidence provides a code-based alternative to proprietary drag-and-drop business intelligence platforms. Because it is open source and generates a static website, users can deploy their reports to static hosting services like Netlify or Vercel, or to their own infrastructure. The markdown and SQL approach allows reporting logic to be version-controlled alongside other code, which can fit into workflows where report definitions are treated as code artifacts rather than configurations managed through a UI.
