Grida

Overview:

Grida is an open-source 2D graphics engine and editor with an integrated Database/CMS and Forms module. It provides a canvas editor and rendering engine built on Rust, Skia, and WASM, designed for performance and interoperability with a stable document format. The project also offers tools for managing data via Supabase and creating complex forms. It targets developers and designers needing a customizable, programmable graphics tool and a data management interface that works with existing backend infrastructure.

Core Features:

• 2D Canvas Engine: A node/property-based infinite canvas with fast pan/zoom, built on a Rust and Skia core exposed to web environments via WebAssembly.

• Multiple Render Backends: Supports a DOM renderer for HTML/CSS workflows and a Skia renderer (via WASM) using WebGL2 and raster for both interactive and headless rendering.

• .grida Document Format: Uses FlatBuffers for an efficient, schema-evolvable file format suitable for large documents.

• Figma Import & Headless Rendering: Can import from Figma (.fig files and REST API JSON) and render them to PNG/JPEG/WebP/PDF/SVG in Node.js or the browser via @grida/refig.

• Database/CMS with Supabase: Connects to a Supabase project to manage Tables, Views, Storage, and Auth, offering features like CSV export, filter/sort/search, and virtual attributes.

• Advanced Form Builder: Provides 30+ input types, logic blocks, computed fields, custom CSS, real-time sync, and supports headless API-only usage.

Use Cases:

• Developers building a custom design tool: Using Grida's canvas engine and Skia/WASM rendering as a foundation for a web-based graphics editor.

• Generating assets from Figma documents: Using @grida/refig in a CI/CD pipeline to convert .fig files or Figma API JSON into PNG or PDF exports.

• Building a CMS or admin panel: Connecting Grida's Database/CMS to a Supabase project to create a read-only view, a rich text editor, or a chart view for managing application data.

• Creating complex, data-driven forms: Using Grida's form builder with features like 30+ input types, logic blocks, and inventory management for ticket sales, with real-time sync and API integration.

Why It Matters:

Grida is a versatile open-source alternative that combines a high-performance 2D rendering engine with practical database and form tools. Its use of a stable FlatBuffers document format and headless rendering capabilities makes it suitable for developer workflows like CI pipelines. The project explicitly positions itself as an alternative to form builders like Google Forms and Typeform while providing the foundation for a graphics design tool comparable to Figma, all without requiring a browser for data export and rendering.