PostgREST Data Provider for React-Admin: Bootstrap the creation of user interfaces on top of PostgreSQL databases

Abstract

In today’s data-driven world, vast amounts of data are stored in relational databases like i2b2, often using middleware applications for delivery. PostgreSQL, a widely used open-source DBMS, offers advanced features, including Foreign Data Wrappers (FDWs) for integration with other DBMSs. However, accessing data typically requires SQL knowledge. RESTful APIs simplify data interactions, and tools like PostgREST convert PostgreSQL databases into RESTful APIs. Our work introduces a PostgREST Data Provider that bridges React-Admin with PostgREST. A demo application showcases its capabilities, using KeyCloak for authentication and integrating an i2b2 database with FDW, fuzzy full-text search with ZomboDB, and utilizing GRASCCO discharge letters linked to i2b2 patients.