In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, creating a functional multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) application can seem daunting. However, with the right tools and guidance, it is achievable. I recently developed an EdTech app that exemplifies this process, utilizing widely available technologies. This article outlines how you can build your own multi-tenant SaaS application.

Understanding Multi-Tenant SaaS Applications

A multi-tenant SaaS application is designed to serve multiple customers, or tenants, from a single codebase. This setup allows different customers to utilize the same application infrastructure while ensuring that their data remains isolated and secure. Achieving this tenant-specific access management can be complex, especially when handled manually. To streamline this process, I opted for Permit, a modern authorization solution that simplifies the management of roles and permissions.

Introducing the Technologies: Next.js and Appwrite

Next.js is a powerful React-based framework that enhances web application development by offering server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and built-in performance optimizations. The reasons for choosing Next.js for my project include:

  • Enhanced performance and SEO through pre-rendering of pages.
  • Built-in routing capabilities that simplify page transitions and dynamic content management.
  • Smooth integration with backend services like Appwrite and Permit.io.

Appwrite serves as a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform, providing essential features such as user authentication, databases, storage, and serverless functions. By leveraging Appwrite, developers can focus on frontend development without the complexity of building a backend from scratch. In this project, Appwrite was utilized for:

  • User registration, login, and session management.
  • Providing a structured NoSQL database for tenant-specific data storage.

The combination of Next.js and Appwrite facilitated the creation of a scalable, high-performance multi-tenant SaaS application while keeping the development process efficient.

Exploring Multi-Tenant SaaS Authorization

In a multi-tenant SaaS environment, multiple users or groupsknown as tenantsshare a single application instance. This architecture allows for shared infrastructure while maintaining strict data isolation. An illustrative example of a multi-tenant application is Trello, where different organizations have access to the same infrastructure but cannot view each other's data.

In such applications, users may have varying levels of access; some may have higher privileges than others. Hence, the authorization system must ensure that users cannot access data belonging to different tenants, and that users within the same tenant have access only to the resources their roles permit. Additionally, the system must efficiently handle many users, tenants, and roles without compromising performance.

The Importance of Tenant Isolation and Granular Access Control

Tenant isolation is crucial for data security, ensuring that each tenant's information remains confidential. Granular access control, on the other hand, ensures that users within the same organization can only perform actions that their roles allow. Implementing effective authorization for SaaS applications can be complex, but tools like Permit can simplify this process significantly.

Introducing Permit and Its Benefits

Permit is an intuitive authorization tool tailored for managing access in applications, including multi-tenant SaaS platforms. By integrating Permit, developers can easily define and assign roles with specific permissions, manage granular access control, and establish rules based on user attributes. This simplifies the overall authorization process and increases the security of the application.

Building the EdTech SaaS Platform

To illustrate the capabilities of Permit, I chose to develop a multi-tenant EdTech SaaS platform. The challenges involved include user authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), and ensuring multi-tenancy. For the frontend, I used Next.js, while Appwrite was employed for authentication and database management, with Permit handling the fine-grained authorization.

Overview of the Technology Stack

  • Next.js: Frontend framework
  • ShadCN + Tailwind CSS: UI components and styling
  • Zustand: State management
  • Appwrite: Authentication & backend services
  • Permit.io: Role-based access control

System Architecture

The architecture follows a backend-first approach:

  • Backend (Node.js + Express): Handles API requests and business logic, utilizing Appwrite for authentication and database management, and implementing Permit for authorization.
  • Frontend (Next.js): Connects to the backend, fetching data securely and rendering the UI based on user permissions.

By enforcing authorization at the API level, we ensure that users cannot bypass restrictions, even if they manipulate the frontend.

Conclusion and Next Steps

By the end of this guide, you will have a fully operational multi-tenant EdTech SaaS application where:

  • Admins can manage student records.
  • Teachers can create assignments and view student results.
  • Students can access their coursework.

This article serves as a starting point, providing a comprehensive breakdown of implementing Permit for authorization. In the next part, we will delve into frontend integration, including establishing secure API requests, dynamically displaying UI elements based on user permissions, and managing state effectively.