Overview:
The Bitwarden Server project provides the backend infrastructure—APIs, database, and core services—that power all Bitwarden client applications. Written in C# using .NET Core with ASP.NET Core and a T-SQL/SQL Server database, it is designed to be developed, built, and deployed cross-platform on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This repository is intended for developers and system administrators who want to self-host the server-side components of the Bitwarden password management ecosystem.
Core Features:
Backend APIs & Services: Includes APIs, Identity, Notifications, Events, Billing, Admin, SSO, and SCIM services.
Cross-platform Deployment: Can be deployed using Docker containers on Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions using provided PowerShell and Bash scripts.
Production-ready Clusters: Supports deployment configurations for US and EU production clusters with defined service image hashes.
Open Source Development: Codebase is written in .NET Core with ASP.NET Core, allowing cross-platform development and contributions.
Use Cases:
Self-hosting the Bitwarden backend: System administrators and developers deploy the server project to run their own instance of the Bitwarden password management platform.
Customizing or extending server functionality: Developers modify the backend APIs, database, or services to integrate with existing infrastructure or add custom features.
Multi-cluster production deployment: Organizations deploy separate server clusters in US and EU regions for data residency or performance requirements.
Why It Matters:
As the open-source backend powering the Bitwarden ecosystem, this project provides full transparency and control over the server-side infrastructure of a widely used password manager. Being cross-platform and deployable via Docker, it allows teams to self-host and customize the backend without being locked into a proprietary cloud service. The project’s modular service architecture (APIs, Identity, SSO, SCIM, etc.) makes it practical for organizations that need to integrate password management into existing identity and access workflows.
