Cortado Overview

What Is Cortado?

Cortado is a backend framework built for modern developers who want speed and structure without overhead. It focuses on clear patterns, minimal setup time, and maximum flexibility. Whether you're building an internal tool, SaaS product, or experimental prototype, Cortado gets out of your way and lets you focus on logic, not boilerplate.

Structure and Philosophy

At its core, Cortado embraces a file-based routing system and clean separation between logic layers. This allows for predictable code organization and faster onboarding. Routes are just files. Middleware is just functions. There's no hidden magic — only intentional design. It’s perfect for small teams who want to ship fast, and equally powerful for growing teams that need long-term maintainability.

REST + WebSocket Support

Cortado provides native support for both REST and WebSocket protocols. That means you can create traditional API endpoints alongside real-time event handlers using the same conventions. The transition between stateless HTTP and persistent WebSocket communication is seamless, enabling richer user experiences like live dashboards or collaborative features — all without switching frameworks.

Integrations

You can integrate Cortado with external platforms easily. Popular services like FramerAuth, Lemon Squeezy, and Slack are often just a few lines away thanks to Cortado’s integration layer. Whether you need authentication, payments, or third-party webhooks, the structure is already in place to support those flows.

“The clarity of Cortado’s structure helped our team scale from idea to production in days, not weeks.”

Middleware & Flexibility

One of the most empowering aspects of Cortado is its flexibility. You can apply custom middleware globally or per route, define scoped authentication, and organize business logic however it suits your needs. For example:

• Use middleware chains to process headers, check tokens, or enrich requests

• Apply role-based logic per endpoint (admin, user, guest) without rewriting handlers

This makes it easy to evolve your app architecture over time while maintaining clarity.

From Prototype to Production

Cortado isn’t just a developer tool — it’s a foundation. From prototyping to production, from static routes to reactive systems, it gives you the right tools at each stage. And because it stays out of the way, your backend can remain focused, fast, and forward-compatible.