Skip to main content

Introduction

Buildocs lets you build CRMs, ERPs, and workflow applications without frontend deployments.

Design forms with tables, inputs, file uploads, and custom widgets in the visual designer. Connect your backend through the SDK. Ship UI changes instantly — no rebuilds, no downtime.

It is not a form builder that stops at submission — it is a full UI engine for forms, tables, document workflows, and approval flows, where your backend controls everything at runtime.


Rapid Application Development

Buildocs is built for speed. The features that normally take weeks to implement are included and production-ready — you focus on business logic, not infrastructure.

FeatureWhat it means
File upload & downloadUpload, store, and download files without writing file-handling UI code
Document previewerPreview PDFs, images, and Excel files inline — no third-party viewer needed
i18n supportMulti-language interfaces with automatic locale resolution
Form validationBuilt-in required-field validation, custom backend rules, field highlighting
Modal workflowsOpen nested forms, detail views, and approval flows from buttons or table rows
Table widgetSortable, paginated data tables with inline actions

Teams use Buildocs to digitalize operations quickly — turning paper processes, Excel sheets, and documented workflows into working digital applications in a fraction of the time.


What you can build

Buildocs is designed for teams building configurable business systems, not just collecting form submissions.

  • CRM and ERP platforms
  • Document management and approval workflows
  • Internal tools and admin panels
  • Client portals and multi-tenant SaaS products
  • Enterprise process automation

Your backend controls the UI at runtime — opening modals, showing or hiding fields, triggering downloads, running validation, and driving full user journeys — without frontend deployments.


Architecture Overview

Buildocs UI Engine follows a design-once, render-anywhere architecture.

Buildocs UI Engine Architecture

How It Works

1. Design

Create and configure forms, workflows, and interfaces inside the Buildocs UI Engine platform using the visual designer.

2. Integrate

Install the SDK inside your frontend application or use iframe integration for faster adoption.

3. Render

Interfaces are rendered natively inside your application (for example React), not hosted externally.

4. Control

Your backend controls behavior, validation, workflows, and business logic at runtime.

5. Process

All submission data and workflows remain fully inside your own infrastructure.


Architecture Benefits

Buildocs UI Engine integrates naturally into existing systems without requiring vendor-controlled hosting, external backends, or forced iframe usage.

Unlike many form builder platforms, you keep full ownership of:

  • frontend behavior
  • backend logic
  • workflows
  • security
  • compliance
  • data

Core Capabilities

These features are available when using the Buildocs UI Engine SDK.

Visual UI Designer — Build forms and interfaces using a visual schema-driven designer

Runtime UI API — Full programmatic control over application behavior

Backend Communication — Trigger backend logic from UI events

Dynamic Interfaces — Show, hide, validate, and prefill components dynamically

Document Workflows — Generate, preview, upload, and download files

Modal Interfaces — Open nested forms and dialogs from actions or workflows

Advanced Theming — Centralized project-level UI customization

Full Data Ownership — Your infrastructure controls all workflows and persistence


Runtime API

What makes Buildocs UI Engine a true platform instead of a simple form builder is the Runtime API.

While interfaces are designed visually, your application controls them completely at runtime.

CapabilityDescription
Widget ControlShow, hide, enable, disable any UI element
Data ManipulationPrefill values, update fields, read application state
ValidationCustom validation, highlighting, errors, warnings
File OperationsUpload files, trigger downloads, preview PDFs
Modal InterfacesOpen forms in dialogs from buttons or table actions
Backend CommandsBackend responses can modify UI automatically

Your backend can send commands that the interface executes automatically:

  • update values
  • open dialogs
  • show or hide sections
  • trigger downloads
  • change validation states

This enables server-driven UI behavior without frontend deployments.


Data Flow and Ownership

You Control the Data

Buildocs UI Engine does not impose a predefined submission pipeline like many traditional form builders.

When using the SDK, your application is responsible for all data handling.

Your Application Handles

  • receiving submission data
  • validation and transformation
  • database persistence
  • external service integrations
  • business workflows
  • permissions and access control

This makes Buildocs UI Engine suitable for applications with strict requirements around:

  • security
  • compliance
  • auditability
  • data sovereignty
  • enterprise workflows

Typical Use Cases

Buildocs UI Engine is designed for teams building configurable business systems — not just collecting form submissions.

Use CaseDescription
🏢 SaaS PlatformsEmbedded interfaces for customer-facing applications
👥 Multi-tenant SystemsShared UI definitions across multiple tenants
📄 Document WorkflowsGeneration, signing, approval, and automation
⚙️ Internal ToolsAdmin panels, process flows, operational systems
🎯 Centralized ManagementDesign centrally, execute locally
🔒 Data SovereigntyFull ownership of infrastructure and workflows

Why Teams Choose Buildocs UI Engine

Because most businesses do not need another simple form builder.

They need:

  • flexible application infrastructure
  • dynamic UI without constant frontend deployments
  • backend-controlled workflows
  • document automation
  • enterprise-grade customization

They need forms that are part of the product — not isolated submission pages.

Buildocs UI Engine provides exactly that.

It helps teams ship CRMs, ERPs, and internal tools faster — without maintaining a separate frontend codebase for every UI change.


Next Steps

📚 Explore Documentation
Learn platform concepts and implementation patterns

💻 View Code Examples
See real-world integration examples

🔧 API Reference
Detailed SDK and runtime API documentation


Need Help?

Need help with architecture, integration, or implementation?

Contact support or reach out to our team for guidance.