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Supabase Installation and Setup: Project Creation Guide

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Getting started with Supabase takes less than 5 minutes from account creation to having a fully functional backend with PostgreSQL database, authentication system, file storage, and auto-generated APIs. This step-by-step guide walks you through creating your first Supabase project, understanding project settings, installing the Supabase CLI for local development, configuring environment variables, and setting up your development workflow for production-ready applications. Whether you're building a web app, mobile application, or backend API, proper Supabase setup ensures security, performance, and smooth development experience. Before proceeding, review our beginner's guide to understand Supabase fundamentals and architecture overview for technical context.

Prerequisites

Before creating your Supabase project, ensure you have a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), valid email address for account registration, and basic understanding of databases and APIs. For local development, install Node.js 16+ for JavaScript projects, Git for version control, and a code editor like VS Code. Familiarity with SQL is helpful but not required as Supabase provides visual tools for database management.

Creating Your Supabase Account

Visit supabase.com and click 'Start your project' to begin. Sign up using GitHub OAuth (recommended for developers), Google authentication, or email/password. GitHub sign-up is fastest and enables automatic integration with your repositories for deployment workflows. After authentication, you'll land on the Supabase dashboard ready to create your first project.

Creating Your First Project

Click 'New Project': From the Supabase dashboard, select your organization (personal or team) and click 'New Project'
Name Your Project: Choose a descriptive name like 'my-app-prod' or 'todo-app-backend' that clearly identifies the project's purpose
Set Database Password: Create a strong, unique password (16+ characters with letters, numbers, symbols). Save this securely in a password manager as it's needed for direct PostgreSQL connections
Choose Region: Select the geographic region closest to your primary users for lowest latency. Options include US East, US West, Europe, Asia Pacific, and others
Select Pricing Plan: Start with the Free plan (500MB database, 1GB storage, 2GB bandwidth) or Pro plan ($25/month) for production with more resources and features
Create Project: Click 'Create new project' and wait 1-2 minutes while Supabase provisions your dedicated PostgreSQL instance and services

Important: Your database password cannot be recovered if lost! Save it immediately in a secure password manager. You'll need it for database migrations, CLI access, and direct PostgreSQL connections.

Understanding Project Settings

After project creation, navigate to Settings to access critical configuration. The API section contains your Project URL and API Keys (anon/public key for client apps, service_role key for server-side with admin access). Database section shows connection strings for direct PostgreSQL access. Configuration includes organization settings, billing, and project deletion. Never expose the service_role key in client-side code as it bypasses Row Level Security.

API Keys and Environment Variables

bash.env.local

# .env.local - Environment variables for your application

# Supabase Configuration
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL=https://your-project.supabase.co
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY=your-anon-public-key-here

# Server-side only (Never expose in client code!)
SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY=your-service-role-key-here

# Database connection (for migrations and direct access)
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://postgres:[YOUR-PASSWORD]@db.your-project.supabase.co:5432/postgres

# Note: Replace placeholders with actual values from Supabase Dashboard > Settings > API

Store your Supabase credentials in environment variables, never commit them to version control. The anon key is safe for client-side use as it respects Row Level Security policies. The service role key bypasses all RLS and should only be used in secure server environments like Edge Functions or backend APIs. Add .env.local to .gitignore to prevent accidental exposure.

Installing Supabase CLI

The Supabase CLI enables local development, database migrations, and deployment workflows. It runs Supabase locally using Docker, allowing offline development and testing without affecting production. Install via npm, Homebrew, or direct download.

bashcli_setup.sh

# Install Supabase CLI

# Using npm (Node.js required)
npm install -g supabase

# Using Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
brew install supabase/tap/supabase

# Verify installation
supabase --version

# Login to Supabase
supabase login

# Initialize project
supabase init

# Start local Supabase (requires Docker)
supabase start

# This starts:
# - PostgreSQL database
# - PostgREST API
# - GoTrue Auth
# - Realtime Server
# - Storage
# - Studio Dashboard (http://localhost:54323)

Accessing Your Database

Access your database through multiple interfaces. The Supabase Dashboard provides a Table Editor for visual schema management and SQL Editor for writing queries. Use any PostgreSQL client (pgAdmin, DBeaver, TablePlus) with the connection string from Settings > Database. The JavaScript client connects programmatically for application code. Learn database basics for table creation and management.

Next Steps After Setup

Install JavaScript Client: Add @supabase/supabase-js to your project and initialize with your credentials. See SDK guide
Create Database Tables: Use Table Editor or SQL Editor to design your schema with appropriate data types and constraints. Follow database tutorial
Configure Authentication: Set up email/password or OAuth providers in Dashboard > Authentication for user management. Learn in auth guide
Enable Row Level Security: Protect your data with RLS policies ensuring users only access authorized data. Master RLS setup
Set Up Local Development: Initialize Supabase CLI and start local instance for offline development and testing. See local setup guide
Build Your First Feature: Start with a simple CRUD feature to understand Supabase workflows. Try Next.js integration tutorial

Your Supabase project is now ready! Continue with JavaScript Client setup to start building your application, or explore database migrations for production workflows.

Conclusion

Setting up Supabase provides you with a complete backend infrastructure in minutes—dedicated PostgreSQL database, authentication system, file storage, and auto-generated APIs all configured and ready for development. Proper setup with secure environment variables, CLI installation for local development, and understanding of project settings ensures smooth development workflow from prototype to production. Your Supabase project includes all the tools needed to build modern applications without managing servers or infrastructure. The free tier is generous enough for development and small production apps, while paid plans scale seamlessly as your application grows. With your project created, API keys configured, and CLI installed, you're ready to start building. Continue your journey by installing the JavaScript client, creating your first database tables, and implementing user authentication to bring your application to life.