Flexible, scalable data systems. Built by you.

Why do they call them spreadsheets? Because they spread your data all over the place. If you’re tired of version control, v-lookups, formula drift, and accidental overwrites, it’s time for a better system. Use relational database logic to turn your separate spreadsheets into a single source of truth with Donut Maker.

Real code, right at your fingertips.
Donut Maker runs on complex code, but packages it into prebuilt modules that you can link together through a visual, drag-and-drop interface. Map the movements and interactions of all your data, no coding knowledge required. Optional AI assistance can help you design, fill in the gaps, or build it for you. Unlike vibe coding, change and expand as much as you want without snapping brittle code or adding invisible security risks.

Donut Maker is the direct descendant of Helix, the original no-code, multiuser database builder that’s powered tens of thousands of businesses worldwide since 1984.

Helix’s foundational invention was a visual drag-and-drop interface. Instead of writing code, users could arrange and link icons containing pre-written code blocks to create complex workflows and data relationships. This first-of-its-kind software democratized programming: suddenly, people from any background could build robust, practical software for nearly any department, in any industry, and serve it to entire teams, without ever needing to learn the complexity of a coding language. In many cases, the ability for users to tailor their system to their industry was the difference between their businesses outpacing their competitors’.

In the age of AI, a constrained platform like Donut Maker actually means faster builds, more stable code, better iteration, and easier collaboration between humans and AI in the short term. In the long term, it means a lower chance of security holes and catastrophic quality issues. Donut Maker lets you create flexible, governable data systems that adapt and scale as your needs change.

Imagine your entire team in a single system, anywhere in the world, with real-time access and updates. That’s not fiction; it’s the reality enabled by this platform’s server component, which lets you design roles and permissions to match your needs, for a team of 2 or 2000.

Donut Maker isn’t designed to lock you into a system of escalating costs by threatening to lock you out of what you’ve built. In fact, we don’t charge for the basic version of Donut Maker. Build as many systems as you want; pay only for the number of seats you need on Donut Server^®. No paywall stands between you and your records, and the only person who can sell your data is you. Those are our values.

We’re not offering out-of-the-box business software. Building an effective system in Donut Maker takes some time and learning upfront, but the value of what you build compounds the longer you use it. Donut Maker might be for you if:

• Your software stack is sprawling or fragmented, or you’ve outgrown your spreadsheets.
• You have a unique way of working that won’t fit within rigid, standardized workflows or spindly SaaS tools.
• You want ownership over your data and data systems, rather than renting infrastructure and logic from big tech.
• You need robust and adaptable systems that can scale with you.