Before you continue...

CARLOS is an AI-enabled project, and all CARLOS software to date has been entirely produced using a combination of LLM-based coding products from Anthropic, OpenAI, and open-weight alternatives. Whilst CARLOS represents an approach to apply these products toward new standards of openness and release of corporate ownership of internet-based software and data, we realise that there are folks for whom use of these products is unacceptable. With that said, if folks will continue to use AI to produce software, our mission is to show that AI unlocks ways to produce better software for everyone.

One of the principles behind the project is full disclosure of AI use, and AI-written language, starting here.

An opinionated framework for building, deploying and running robust web apps.

Get startedUse the apps ↗

Rastrillo ↗

A web framework using Go + SQLite + a design system for building CARLOS apps

Platform →

An open-source deployment platform for deploying CARLOS anywhere, with carloku.com ready to sign up for today

A set of defaults for the agentic age that bring a host of benefits:

Cost-effective, Available, Replicated, Lightweight, Open, and Secure

Before CARLOS

Single big deployment, single big database

With CARLOS

Lots of small instances, can be deployed independently

A more sovereign architecture

By default, CARLOS apps are broken down into full-stack deployable instances that run as single processes with embedded databases that can run independently or as part of a SaaS like app deployment. This introduces huge flexibility and portability gains without compromising user experiences.

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
Monolithic multi-tenant appsSingle-process per tenantMuch more flexibility
Centralised multi-tenant databasesDatabase per-tenantMore secure, more control
Nightly backupsContinuous streamingRobust data-storage
Single-deployment per appFlexible deployment per tenantEasily deploy multi-platform, multi-region, or self-hosted
Everyone updates at onceTenants can choose whether to upgradeCustomers have more control

Before CARLOS

Platform / Database / APIs / Proxies

CARLOS platform, self-contained, addons optional

Embracing the agentic era

The initial question is: what if we could have all these benefits, without any compromise? How do we use agents to amplify a vision for a better web?

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
Existing pre-agentic frameworksAgentic-aware from day oneMaximal token efficiency
Slow, interpreted languagesFast, compiled languagesHuge day-one performance
API as an addonAPI as first classBuild apps that agents can use

Before CARLOS

  • Containers
  • Build scripts
  • Env bootstrap
  • Databases
  • Caches
  • Web proxies

With CARLOS

Single process,
embedded database

Better, faster, more productive development

Unlocking the promise of 100x productivity requires a mindset shift: what if everyone on a team can build features, as close to production as possible?

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
Complicated development environmentsSimple dev env with few dependenciesLittle to no dev/prod disparity
Prototype -> Plan -> ImplementPrototype and implement in the same stepProgrammers and non-programmers alike move quicker
Slow, clunky dev tools and CIFast compile, fast runtime, fast CIRobust well-tested code with more reliable tests
Slow, brittle preview environmentsInstant full-stack preview environmentsTest multiple versions of features side-by-side
Clunky wrapped web apps for nativeProperly rapidly-built native UI appsShared modules and database schema
CostsCapabilities

Improved operations

By simplifying the architecture, but without compromising on robustness or security, CARLOS apps gain a host of operational benefits.

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
A stack of expensive toolsMuch more development and runtime efficiencyMuch higher cost:performance ratio
Prototype -> Plan -> ImplementPrototype and implement in the same stepProgrammers and non-programmers alike move quicker
Slow, clunky dev tools and CIFast compile, fast runtime, fast CIRobust well-tested code with more reliable tests
Complex container orchestrationLean process orchestrationLightweight operations that are far more efficient

Before CARLOS

Mixing customer data

With CARLOS

Isolating customer data

A solid security foundation

Starting from tenant isolation, and going all the way to full end-to-end-encryption if you need.

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
Mixing customer dataIsolating customer dataMuch narrower blast radius
Scoped database queriesNo risk of query leakageGreater portability e.g. true SQL access to data
Plaintext almost everywhereEncryption encouragedSecurity at rest, on disk and in transit
Opaque security posture and complianceDeclarative trust classesMore transparency about application security
Third-party security scanningContinuous security scanning baked inEncouraging good security hygiene out of the box

Before CARLOS

Accessibility optional

With CARLOS

More inclusive applications by default

Inclusivity, accessibility, and adaptability

Before CARLOSWith CARLOSBenefits
Accessibility optionalWCAG 2.2 AA audit-ready encouraged from the startMore inclusive applications by default
Closed sourceEncouraging open source and open protocolsMore adaptable software
I18n maybeComprehensive I18n and L10nReach global audiences sooner
One size fits allMore customisability per customerMany more viable options for custom experiences