diff --git a/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/BackendManager.js b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/BackendManager.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e73f93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/BackendManager.js
@@ -0,0 +1,358 @@
+/**
+ * BackendManager
+ *
+ * Manages the lifecycle of local backends - creation, starting, stopping, deletion.
+ * Provides IPC handlers for the renderer process to interact with backends.
+ *
+ * @module local-backend/BackendManager
+ */
+
+const { ipcMain } = require('electron');
+const fs = require('fs').promises;
+const path = require('path');
+const os = require('os');
+
+const { LocalBackendServer } = require('./LocalBackendServer');
+
+/**
+ * Safe console.log wrapper
+ */
+function safeLog(...args) {
+  try {
+    console.log('[BackendManager]', ...args);
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Ignore EPIPE errors
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate a unique backend ID
+ */
+function generateBackendId() {
+  return 'backend_' + Date.now().toString(36) + Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 7);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Backend metadata stored in config.json
+ * @typedef {Object} BackendMetadata
+ * @property {string} id - Unique backend ID
+ * @property {string} name - Display name
+ * @property {string} createdAt - ISO8601 timestamp
+ * @property {number} port - HTTP port
+ * @property {string[]} projectIds - Projects using this backend
+ */
+
+/**
+ * BackendManager singleton class
+ */
+class BackendManager {
+  constructor() {
+    this.backendsPath = path.join(os.homedir(), '.noodl', 'backends');
+    this.runningBackends = new Map(); // id -> LocalBackendServer
+    this.ipcHandlersSetup = false;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Setup IPC handlers for renderer process
+   */
+  setupIPC() {
+    if (this.ipcHandlersSetup) return;
+
+    safeLog('Setting up IPC handlers');
+
+    // List all backends
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:list', async () => {
+      return this.listBackends();
+    });
+
+    // Create a new backend
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:create', async (_, name) => {
+      return this.createBackend(name);
+    });
+
+    // Delete a backend
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:delete', async (_, id) => {
+      return this.deleteBackend(id);
+    });
+
+    // Start a backend
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:start', async (_, id) => {
+      return this.startBackend(id);
+    });
+
+    // Stop a backend
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:stop', async (_, id) => {
+      return this.stopBackend(id);
+    });
+
+    // Get backend status
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:status', async (_, id) => {
+      return this.getStatus(id);
+    });
+
+    // Get backend config
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:get', async (_, id) => {
+      return this.getBackend(id);
+    });
+
+    // Export schema
+    ipcMain.handle('backend:export-schema', async (_, id, format) => {
+      return this.exportSchema(id, format);
+    });
+
+    this.ipcHandlersSetup = true;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Ensure backends directory exists
+   */
+  async ensureBackendsDir() {
+    await fs.mkdir(this.backendsPath, { recursive: true });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * List all backends
+   * @returns {Promise<BackendMetadata[]>}
+   */
+  async listBackends() {
+    await this.ensureBackendsDir();
+
+    const entries = await fs.readdir(this.backendsPath, { withFileTypes: true });
+    const backends = [];
+
+    for (const entry of entries) {
+      if (!entry.isDirectory()) continue;
+
+      try {
+        const configPath = path.join(this.backendsPath, entry.name, 'config.json');
+        const configData = await fs.readFile(configPath, 'utf-8');
+        const config = JSON.parse(configData);
+        backends.push(config);
+      } catch (e) {
+        // Invalid backend directory, skip
+        safeLog(`Skipping invalid backend: ${entry.name}`, e.message);
+      }
+    }
+
+    return backends;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get a single backend by ID
+   * @param {string} id
+   * @returns {Promise<BackendMetadata|null>}
+   */
+  async getBackend(id) {
+    const backendPath = path.join(this.backendsPath, id);
+
+    try {
+      const configPath = path.join(backendPath, 'config.json');
+      const configData = await fs.readFile(configPath, 'utf-8');
+      return JSON.parse(configData);
+    } catch (e) {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create a new backend
+   * @param {string} name - Display name
+   * @returns {Promise<BackendMetadata>}
+   */
+  async createBackend(name) {
+    await this.ensureBackendsDir();
+
+    const id = generateBackendId();
+    const backendPath = path.join(this.backendsPath, id);
+
+    // Create directory structure
+    await fs.mkdir(backendPath, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.mkdir(path.join(backendPath, 'data'));
+    await fs.mkdir(path.join(backendPath, 'workflows'));
+
+    // Find available port
+    const port = await this.findAvailablePort();
+
+    // Create config
+    const config = {
+      id,
+      name,
+      createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      port,
+      projectIds: []
+    };
+
+    await fs.writeFile(path.join(backendPath, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+
+    // Create empty schema
+    await fs.writeFile(path.join(backendPath, 'schema.json'), JSON.stringify({ tables: [] }, null, 2));
+
+    safeLog(`Created backend: ${id} (${name}) on port ${port}`);
+    return config;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Delete a backend
+   * @param {string} id
+   */
+  async deleteBackend(id) {
+    // Stop if running
+    if (this.runningBackends.has(id)) {
+      await this.stopBackend(id);
+    }
+
+    const backendPath = path.join(this.backendsPath, id);
+
+    // Remove directory recursively
+    await fs.rm(backendPath, { recursive: true, force: true });
+
+    safeLog(`Deleted backend: ${id}`);
+    return { deleted: true, id };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Start a backend
+   * @param {string} id
+   */
+  async startBackend(id) {
+    // Already running?
+    if (this.runningBackends.has(id)) {
+      safeLog(`Backend ${id} already running`);
+      return this.getStatus(id);
+    }
+
+    // Load config
+    const config = await this.getBackend(id);
+    if (!config) {
+      throw new Error(`Backend not found: ${id}`);
+    }
+
+    const backendPath = path.join(this.backendsPath, id);
+
+    // Create and start server
+    const server = new LocalBackendServer({
+      id: config.id,
+      name: config.name,
+      dbPath: path.join(backendPath, 'data', 'local.db'),
+      port: config.port
+    });
+
+    await server.start();
+    this.runningBackends.set(id, server);
+
+    safeLog(`Started backend: ${id} on port ${config.port}`);
+    return this.getStatus(id);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Stop a backend
+   * @param {string} id
+   */
+  async stopBackend(id) {
+    const server = this.runningBackends.get(id);
+    if (!server) {
+      safeLog(`Backend ${id} not running`);
+      return { running: false };
+    }
+
+    await server.stop();
+    this.runningBackends.delete(id);
+
+    safeLog(`Stopped backend: ${id}`);
+    return { running: false };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get backend status
+   * @param {string} id
+   * @returns {{ running: boolean, port?: number, endpoint?: string }}
+   */
+  getStatus(id) {
+    const server = this.runningBackends.get(id);
+    if (!server) {
+      return { running: false };
+    }
+
+    return {
+      running: true,
+      port: server.config.port,
+      endpoint: `http://localhost:${server.config.port}`
+    };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Export backend schema
+   * @param {string} id
+   * @param {'postgres'|'supabase'|'json'} format
+   */
+  async exportSchema(id, format = 'json') {
+    const server = this.runningBackends.get(id);
+    if (!server) {
+      throw new Error('Backend must be running to export schema');
+    }
+
+    const adapter = server.getAdapter();
+    if (!adapter || !adapter.schemaManager) {
+      throw new Error('Adapter or schema manager not available');
+    }
+
+    switch (format) {
+      case 'postgres':
+        return adapter.schemaManager.generatePostgresSQL();
+      case 'supabase':
+        return adapter.schemaManager.generateSupabaseSQL();
+      case 'json':
+      default:
+        const schema = await adapter.schemaManager.exportSchema();
+        return JSON.stringify(schema, null, 2);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Find an available port starting from 8578
+   * (8577 is used by cloud-function-server)
+   */
+  async findAvailablePort() {
+    const backends = await this.listBackends();
+    const usedPorts = new Set(backends.map((b) => b.port));
+
+    // Also check running backends in case config ports changed
+    for (const server of this.runningBackends.values()) {
+      usedPorts.add(server.config.port);
+    }
+
+    let port = 8578;
+    while (usedPorts.has(port)) {
+      port++;
+    }
+
+    return port;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Stop all running backends (for cleanup on app exit)
+   */
+  async stopAll() {
+    safeLog(`Stopping ${this.runningBackends.size} backends`);
+
+    for (const [id, server] of this.runningBackends) {
+      try {
+        await server.stop();
+        safeLog(`Stopped backend: ${id}`);
+      } catch (e) {
+        safeLog(`Error stopping backend ${id}:`, e);
+      }
+    }
+
+    this.runningBackends.clear();
+  }
+}
+
+// Singleton instance
+const backendManager = new BackendManager();
+
+module.exports = {
+  BackendManager,
+  backendManager,
+  setupBackendIPC: () => backendManager.setupIPC()
+};
diff --git a/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/LocalBackendServer.js b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/LocalBackendServer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..919ba46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/LocalBackendServer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,498 @@
+/**
+ * LocalBackendServer
+ *
+ * Express server providing REST API for local SQLite database operations.
+ * This server runs alongside the editor and provides:
+ * - Auto-REST endpoints for database tables (/api/:table)
+ * - Schema management endpoints
+ * - Health check
+ * - WebSocket for realtime updates
+ *
+ * @module local-backend/LocalBackendServer
+ */
+
+const http = require('http');
+const EventEmitter = require('events');
+
+// Using native http.IncomingMessage handling instead of Express for lighter weight
+// This keeps the main process simple and avoids additional dependencies
+
+/**
+ * Generate a unique ID for database records
+ */
+function generateObjectId() {
+  return 'obj_' + Date.now().toString(36) + Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 9);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Safe console.log wrapper to prevent EPIPE errors
+ */
+function safeLog(...args) {
+  try {
+    console.log('[LocalBackend]', ...args);
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Ignore EPIPE errors
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * LocalBackendServer class
+ */
+class LocalBackendServer {
+  /**
+   * @param {Object} config
+   * @param {string} config.id - Backend ID
+   * @param {string} config.name - Backend display name
+   * @param {string} config.dbPath - Path to SQLite database
+   * @param {number} config.port - Port to listen on
+   */
+  constructor(config) {
+    this.config = config;
+    this.server = null;
+    this.adapter = null;
+    this.events = new EventEmitter();
+    this.wsClients = new Set();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Initialize the database adapter
+   */
+  async initAdapter() {
+    // Import adapter dynamically to avoid circular deps
+    const { LocalSQLAdapter } = require('../../../../noodl-runtime/src/api/adapters/local-sql');
+    this.adapter = new LocalSQLAdapter(this.config.dbPath);
+    await this.adapter.connect();
+
+    // Forward adapter events to WebSocket clients
+    this.adapter.on('create', (data) => this.broadcast('create', data));
+    this.adapter.on('save', (data) => this.broadcast('save', data));
+    this.adapter.on('delete', (data) => this.broadcast('delete', data));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Parse JSON body from request
+   */
+  parseBody(req) {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      let body = '';
+      req.on('data', (chunk) => {
+        body += chunk;
+        // Limit body size to 10MB
+        if (body.length > 10 * 1024 * 1024) {
+          reject(new Error('Request body too large'));
+        }
+      });
+      req.on('end', () => {
+        try {
+          resolve(body ? JSON.parse(body) : {});
+        } catch (e) {
+          reject(new Error('Invalid JSON body'));
+        }
+      });
+      req.on('error', reject);
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Send JSON response
+   */
+  sendJSON(res, status, data, headers = {}) {
+    const body = JSON.stringify(data);
+    res.writeHead(status, {
+      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+      'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
+      'Access-Control-Allow-Methods': 'GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS',
+      'Access-Control-Allow-Headers': '*',
+      'Content-Length': Buffer.byteLength(body),
+      ...headers
+    });
+    res.end(body);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Send error response
+   */
+  sendError(res, status, message) {
+    this.sendJSON(res, status, { error: message });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Parse URL and query parameters
+   */
+  parseURL(url) {
+    const [pathname, queryString] = url.split('?');
+    const query = {};
+    if (queryString) {
+      queryString.split('&').forEach((pair) => {
+        const [key, value] = pair.split('=');
+        query[decodeURIComponent(key)] = decodeURIComponent(value || '');
+      });
+    }
+    return { pathname, query };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handle incoming HTTP requests
+   */
+  async handleRequest(req, res) {
+    const { pathname, query } = this.parseURL(req.url);
+
+    // CORS preflight
+    if (req.method === 'OPTIONS') {
+      res.writeHead(204, {
+        'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
+        'Access-Control-Allow-Methods': 'GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS',
+        'Access-Control-Allow-Headers': '*',
+        'Access-Control-Max-Age': '86400'
+      });
+      res.end();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      // Route: Health check
+      if (pathname === '/health' && req.method === 'GET') {
+        return this.sendJSON(res, 200, {
+          status: 'ok',
+          backend: this.config.name,
+          id: this.config.id,
+          port: this.config.port
+        });
+      }
+
+      // Route: Schema
+      if (pathname === '/api/_schema') {
+        if (req.method === 'GET') {
+          return await this.handleGetSchema(res);
+        }
+        if (req.method === 'POST') {
+          const body = await this.parseBody(req);
+          return await this.handleUpdateSchema(res, body);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Route: Batch operations
+      if (pathname === '/api/_batch' && req.method === 'POST') {
+        const body = await this.parseBody(req);
+        return await this.handleBatch(res, body);
+      }
+
+      // Route: Table operations (/api/:table)
+      const tableMatch = pathname.match(/^\/api\/([^/]+)$/);
+      if (tableMatch) {
+        const table = decodeURIComponent(tableMatch[1]);
+
+        if (req.method === 'GET') {
+          return await this.handleQuery(res, table, query);
+        }
+        if (req.method === 'POST') {
+          const body = await this.parseBody(req);
+          return await this.handleCreate(res, table, body);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Route: Record operations (/api/:table/:id)
+      const recordMatch = pathname.match(/^\/api\/([^/]+)\/([^/]+)$/);
+      if (recordMatch) {
+        const table = decodeURIComponent(recordMatch[1]);
+        const id = decodeURIComponent(recordMatch[2]);
+
+        if (req.method === 'GET') {
+          return await this.handleFetch(res, table, id);
+        }
+        if (req.method === 'PUT') {
+          const body = await this.parseBody(req);
+          return await this.handleSave(res, table, id, body);
+        }
+        if (req.method === 'DELETE') {
+          return await this.handleDelete(res, table, id);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Route: Cloud Functions (/functions/:name) - placeholder for CloudRunner
+      const functionMatch = pathname.match(/^\/functions\/([^/]+)$/);
+      if (functionMatch && req.method === 'POST') {
+        const functionName = decodeURIComponent(functionMatch[1]);
+        const body = await this.parseBody(req);
+        return await this.handleFunction(res, functionName, body, req.headers);
+      }
+
+      // 404 for unmatched routes
+      this.sendError(res, 404, 'Not found');
+    } catch (error) {
+      safeLog('Request error:', error);
+      this.sendError(res, 500, error.message);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ==========================================================================
+  // ROUTE HANDLERS
+  // ==========================================================================
+
+  /**
+   * GET /api/:table - Query records
+   */
+  async handleQuery(res, table, query) {
+    const options = {
+      collection: table,
+      limit: query.limit ? parseInt(query.limit) : 100,
+      skip: query.skip ? parseInt(query.skip) : 0
+    };
+
+    if (query.where) {
+      try {
+        options.where = JSON.parse(query.where);
+      } catch (e) {
+        return this.sendError(res, 400, 'Invalid where parameter');
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (query.sort) {
+      try {
+        options.sort = JSON.parse(query.sort);
+      } catch (e) {
+        return this.sendError(res, 400, 'Invalid sort parameter');
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (query.include) {
+      options.include = query.include.split(',');
+    }
+
+    const results = await this.adapter.query(options);
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, { results, count: results.length });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * GET /api/:table/:id - Fetch single record
+   */
+  async handleFetch(res, table, id) {
+    const record = await this.adapter.fetch({
+      collection: table,
+      objectId: id
+    });
+
+    if (!record) {
+      return this.sendError(res, 404, 'Record not found');
+    }
+
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, record);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * POST /api/:table - Create record
+   */
+  async handleCreate(res, table, data) {
+    const record = await this.adapter.create({
+      collection: table,
+      data
+    });
+
+    this.sendJSON(res, 201, record);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * PUT /api/:table/:id - Update record
+   */
+  async handleSave(res, table, id, data) {
+    await this.adapter.save({
+      collection: table,
+      objectId: id,
+      data
+    });
+
+    // Fetch updated record
+    const record = await this.adapter.fetch({
+      collection: table,
+      objectId: id
+    });
+
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, record);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * DELETE /api/:table/:id - Delete record
+   */
+  async handleDelete(res, table, id) {
+    await this.adapter.delete({
+      collection: table,
+      objectId: id
+    });
+
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, { deleted: true, objectId: id });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * GET /api/_schema - Get schema
+   */
+  async handleGetSchema(res) {
+    const schema = await this.adapter.getSchema();
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, schema);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * POST /api/_schema - Update schema
+   */
+  async handleUpdateSchema(res, body) {
+    const { table, columns, action } = body;
+
+    if (action === 'createTable') {
+      await this.adapter.schemaManager.createTable({ name: table, columns });
+      return this.sendJSON(res, 200, { success: true, action: 'createTable', table });
+    }
+
+    if (action === 'addColumn') {
+      await this.adapter.schemaManager.addColumn(table, body.column);
+      return this.sendJSON(res, 200, { success: true, action: 'addColumn', table });
+    }
+
+    this.sendError(res, 400, 'Unknown schema action');
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * POST /api/_batch - Batch operations
+   */
+  async handleBatch(res, body) {
+    const { operations } = body;
+    if (!Array.isArray(operations)) {
+      return this.sendError(res, 400, 'operations must be an array');
+    }
+
+    const results = [];
+    for (const op of operations) {
+      try {
+        let result;
+        switch (op.method) {
+          case 'create':
+            result = await this.adapter.create({
+              collection: op.collection,
+              data: op.data
+            });
+            break;
+          case 'save':
+            await this.adapter.save({
+              collection: op.collection,
+              objectId: op.objectId,
+              data: op.data
+            });
+            result = { success: true };
+            break;
+          case 'delete':
+            await this.adapter.delete({
+              collection: op.collection,
+              objectId: op.objectId
+            });
+            result = { deleted: true };
+            break;
+          default:
+            result = { error: `Unknown method: ${op.method}` };
+        }
+        results.push(result);
+      } catch (e) {
+        results.push({ error: e.message });
+      }
+    }
+
+    this.sendJSON(res, 200, { results });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * POST /functions/:name - Execute cloud function
+   * Placeholder - will be implemented with CloudRunner
+   */
+  async handleFunction(res, functionName, body, headers) {
+    // TODO: Integrate with CloudRunner when TASK-007C is complete
+    safeLog(`Cloud function called: ${functionName}`);
+    this.sendError(res, 501, 'Cloud functions not yet implemented');
+  }
+
+  // ==========================================================================
+  // WEBSOCKET (TODO - Basic implementation)
+  // ==========================================================================
+
+  /**
+   * Broadcast event to all WebSocket clients
+   */
+  broadcast(event, data) {
+    const message = JSON.stringify({
+      event,
+      data,
+      timestamp: Date.now()
+    });
+
+    for (const client of this.wsClients) {
+      try {
+        client.send(message);
+      } catch (e) {
+        // Client disconnected
+        this.wsClients.delete(client);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ==========================================================================
+  // LIFECYCLE
+  // ==========================================================================
+
+  /**
+   * Start the server
+   */
+  async start() {
+    // Initialize adapter
+    await this.initAdapter();
+
+    // Create HTTP server
+    this.server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
+      this.handleRequest(req, res);
+    });
+
+    // Start listening
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      this.server.on('error', (e) => {
+        safeLog('Server error:', e);
+        reject(e);
+      });
+
+      this.server.listen(this.config.port, () => {
+        safeLog(`Server running on port ${this.config.port}`);
+        resolve();
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Stop the server
+   */
+  async stop() {
+    // Close WebSocket clients
+    for (const client of this.wsClients) {
+      try {
+        client.close();
+      } catch (e) {
+        // Ignore
+      }
+    }
+    this.wsClients.clear();
+
+    // Close HTTP server
+    if (this.server) {
+      return new Promise((resolve) => {
+        this.server.close(resolve);
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Disconnect adapter
+    if (this.adapter) {
+      await this.adapter.disconnect();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get adapter for direct access
+   */
+  getAdapter() {
+    return this.adapter;
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = { LocalBackendServer, generateObjectId };
diff --git a/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/index.js b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e6600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/noodl-editor/src/main/src/local-backend/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/**
+ * Local Backend Module
+ *
+ * Provides a zero-configuration local backend for database operations.
+ * Entry point for Phase 5 TASK-007B: Local Backend Server.
+ *
+ * Usage in main process:
+ *   const { setupBackendIPC } = require('./local-backend');
+ *   setupBackendIPC(); // Sets up IPC handlers
+ *
+ * Usage from renderer:
+ *   await window.electronAPI.invoke('backend:list');
+ *   await window.electronAPI.invoke('backend:create', 'My Backend');
+ *   await window.electronAPI.invoke('backend:start', backendId);
+ *
+ * @module local-backend
+ */
+
+const { LocalBackendServer, generateObjectId } = require('./LocalBackendServer');
+const { BackendManager, backendManager, setupBackendIPC } = require('./BackendManager');
+
+module.exports = {
+  // Classes
+  LocalBackendServer,
+  BackendManager,
+
+  // Singleton instance
+  backendManager,
+
+  // Convenience functions
+  setupBackendIPC,
+  generateObjectId
+};