Build an Admin Panel with Base44: Step-by-Step Tutorial

What We're Building

A customer management admin panel with:

Step 1: Data Model Design

Base44 is backend-first, so start with your data model:

Prompt:

Create a data model for customer management:

Customers:
- id (UUID)
- name (string, required)
- email (string, unique)
- company (string)
- status (enum: active, churned, prospect)
- created_at, updated_at

Orders:
- id (UUID)
- customer_id (FK to customers)
- amount (decimal)
- status (enum: pending, paid, refunded)
- items (JSON array)
- created_at

Add indexes on customer email and order customer_id.

Step 2: Customer List View

Prompt:

Create a customers list page with:
- Table showing name, email, company, status, total orders, last order date
- Search by name or email
- Filter by status
- Sort by name, created_at, or total orders
- Pagination (20 per page)
- Click row to go to customer detail

Base44 will generate the table, search, and filter components automatically based on your data model.

Step 3: Customer Detail View

Prompt:

Create a customer detail page showing:
- Header with customer name, company, and status badge
- Edit button to modify customer info
- Stats cards: total spent, order count, average order value
- Orders table with date, amount, status, and items
- Activity timeline (future enhancement)

Step 4: Dashboard Analytics

Prompt:

Create a dashboard page showing:
- Total customers (with % change from last month)
- Active vs churned breakdown pie chart
- Revenue this month (sum of paid orders)
- Top 5 customers by total spent
- Recent orders list (last 10)

Step 5: User Permissions

Prompt:

Add user roles:
- Admin: can view, create, edit, delete all records
- Viewer: can only view records, no edit/delete buttons
Store role in user profile. Apply role checks on both UI and API level.

Base44 Tips for Admin Panels

1. Start with Data, Not UI

Unlike Lovable, Base44 works best when you define your data model clearly first. The UI follows from the data.

2. Use Relational Queries

Base44 handles joins well. Don't be afraid to request aggregates and related data in your views.

3. Define Enums Clearly

Status fields with defined options (active/churned/prospect) give you filters and validation automatically.

4. Leverage Built-in CRUD

Base44 generates create/edit/delete functionality well. Lean into it rather than customizing heavily.

When to Use Base44 vs Lovable

Use Base44 when:

Use Lovable when:

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