Chef get-convex/chef

Convex's AI app builder, built from bolt.diy, that generates full-stack web apps with a Convex database, auth, file uploads and realtime UI.

Creator kit + Compare GitHub ↗ Install guide (official) ↗

Chef at a glance

Checked 15 Oct 2026

Chef is Convex's open-source AI app builder, started from bolt.diy's stable branch. It builds full-stack apps on Convex with a database, built-in auth, file uploads, realtime UI and background jobs. Running it yourself still uses Convex's hosted control plane and a Convex account, plus an Anthropic, Google, OpenAI or xAI key; local models are not documented. The README says self-hosted forks must replace Convex's own login system. Apache-2.0. Last commit March 2026.

Cite this pageRepoQuarry. “Chef.” Checked 15 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/chef

How much of Lovable does it replace?

3 of 6 jobs. Strong backend generation, but tied to Convex's hosted platform and cloud model keys; no visual editor.

Build a full-stack web app from a chat prompt Partial replacement

See the running app update as it is built Partial replacement

Change the UI by clicking on it (Visual Edits) Not covered

Add a database Partial replacement

Publish the app to a live URL (Publish) Not covered

Turn a screenshot Not covered

For change the UI by clicking on it (Visual Edits), publish the app to a live URL (Publish), turn a screenshot, see other Lovable alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

How much of Bolt.new does it replace?

3 of 6 jobs. Built on bolt.diy's in-browser workbench with a Convex backend; Convex account and cloud model keys needed.

Build a full-stack web app from a chat prompt Partial replacement

Run and preview the app in the browser (WebContainers) Partial replacement

Add a database and login (Bolt Database / Supabase) Partial replacement

Publish the app to a live URL (Bolt hosting / Netlify) Not covered

Build a mobile app from a prompt (Expo) Not covered

Turn a screenshot or design into an app (image or Figma import) Not covered

For publish the app to a live URL (Bolt hosting / Netlify), build a mobile app from a prompt (Expo), turn a screenshot or design into an app (image or Figma import), see other Bolt.new alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

Facts, with sources

Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.

Report a correction

QuestionAnswerSourceChecked

Runs on my machine? The Chef UI runs locally, but it provisions projects through Convex's hosted control plane Note: This will use the hosted Convex control plane to provision Convex projects. github.com · chef#running-locally ↗ 1d ago

Code licence Apache-2.0 github.com · LICENSE ↗ 1d ago

Model weights licence No separate model weights github.com · chef#readme ↗ 1d ago

Commercial use Yes, Apache-2.0; production forks must replace Convex's internal authentication setup your fork will need to replace the existing authentication system with your own. github.com · chef#getting-started ↗ 1d ago

Paid services needed? A cloud model API key (Anthropic, Google, OpenAI or xAI) and a Convex account are required Add any of the following API keys in your `.env.local` to enable code generation: github.com · chef#running-locally ↗ 1d ago

Hardware Not documented Know the answer? —

Operating systems macOS and Linux; Windows users may need an nvm alternative Note: `nvm` only works on Mac and Linux. If you are using Windows, you may have to find an alternative. github.com · chef#running-locally ↗ 1d ago

Setup effort Hard; Node via nvm, pnpm, a Convex project, an OAuth app and several environment variables Go to the Convex dashboard and create an OAuth application. github.com · chef#running-locally ↗ 1d ago