From d2fe119d902daf5079f8d90f8e368325ac432d08 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mike12345567 <me@michaeldrury.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:18:31 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Main body of work, refactoring most usages.

---
 packages/backend-core/context.js              |  15 +++
 packages/backend-core/src/db/utils.js         |  16 +--
 .../backend-core/src/middleware/appTenancy.js |   2 +
 packages/backend-core/src/security/roles.js   |  38 +++---
 .../src/tenancy/FunctionContext.js            |  20 ++--
 packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/context.js  | 113 ++++++++++++++++--
 .../server/src/api/controllers/application.js |  55 +++++----
 packages/server/src/api/controllers/cloud.js  |   5 +-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/component.js   |   7 +-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/datasource.js  |  20 ++--
 packages/server/src/api/controllers/layout.js |   6 +-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/permission.js  |   8 +-
 packages/server/src/api/controllers/role.js   |  10 +-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/routing.js     |   2 +-
 .../api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts    |  82 +++++++------
 .../src/api/controllers/row/external.js       |   6 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/row/internal.js       |  51 +++-----
 .../src/api/controllers/row/internalSearch.js |  24 ++--
 .../server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.js   |  13 +-
 packages/server/src/api/controllers/screen.js |  12 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/static/index.js       |   8 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/table/external.js     |  17 ++-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/table/index.js |   8 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/table/internal.js     |   8 +-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.js |  59 ++++-----
 packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js   |  31 +++--
 .../server/src/api/controllers/view/index.js  |  18 ++-
 .../server/src/api/controllers/view/utils.js  |  13 +-
 .../server/src/api/routes/tests/misc.spec.js  |   1 -
 .../routes/tests/utilities/TestFunctions.js   |   6 +-
 .../server/src/automations/automationUtils.js |   5 +-
 .../server/src/automations/steps/createRow.js |   1 -
 .../server/src/automations/steps/updateRow.js |   2 +-
 .../src/db/linkedRows/LinkController.js       |  10 +-
 packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/index.js    |  41 ++-----
 .../server/src/db/linkedRows/linkUtils.js     |  12 +-
 .../src/db/tests/linkController.spec.js       |   1 -
 .../server/src/db/tests/linkTests.spec.js     |  11 +-
 packages/server/src/db/views/staticViews.js   |  18 ++-
 packages/server/src/integrations/utils.ts     |   5 +-
 packages/server/src/middleware/authorized.js  |   4 +-
 packages/server/src/middleware/currentapp.js  |   3 +-
 .../src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncApps.js    |   3 +-
 .../src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncRows.js    |   3 +-
 .../src/tests/utilities/TestConfiguration.js  |   3 +
 .../server/src/utilities/fileSystem/index.js  |   4 +-
 packages/server/src/utilities/global.js       |  23 ++--
 .../src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.js       |  17 +--
 packages/server/src/utilities/users.js        |   6 +-
 .../server/src/utilities/workerRequests.js    |   2 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/global/configs.js     |   3 +-
 .../src/api/controllers/global/roles.js       |   2 +-
 52 files changed, 453 insertions(+), 400 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 packages/backend-core/context.js

diff --git a/packages/backend-core/context.js b/packages/backend-core/context.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b3d004b209
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-core/context.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const {
+  getAppDB,
+  getDevAppDB,
+  getProdAppDB,
+  getAppId,
+  updateAppId,
+} = require("./src/tenancy/context")
+
+module.exports = {
+  getAppDB,
+  getDevAppDB,
+  getProdAppDB,
+  getAppId,
+  updateAppId,
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/db/utils.js b/packages/backend-core/src/db/utils.js
index 2bc5462646..181467b402 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/db/utils.js
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/db/utils.js
@@ -250,11 +250,10 @@ exports.getAllDbs = async () => {
 /**
  * Lots of different points in the system need to find the full list of apps, this will
  * enumerate the entire CouchDB cluster and get the list of databases (every app).
- * NOTE: this operation is fine in self hosting, but cannot be used when hosting many
- * different users/companies apps as there is no security around it - all apps are returned.
  * @return {Promise<object[]>} returns the app information document stored in each app database.
  */
-exports.getAllApps = async (CouchDB, { dev, all, idsOnly } = {}) => {
+exports.getAllApps = async ({ dev, all, idsOnly } = {}) => {
+  const CouchDB = getCouch()
   let tenantId = getTenantId()
   if (!env.MULTI_TENANCY && !tenantId) {
     tenantId = DEFAULT_TENANT_ID
@@ -310,8 +309,8 @@ exports.getAllApps = async (CouchDB, { dev, all, idsOnly } = {}) => {
 /**
  * Utility function for getAllApps but filters to production apps only.
  */
-exports.getDeployedAppIDs = async CouchDB => {
-  return (await exports.getAllApps(CouchDB, { idsOnly: true })).filter(
+exports.getDeployedAppIDs = async () => {
+  return (await exports.getAllApps({ idsOnly: true })).filter(
     id => !exports.isDevAppID(id)
   )
 }
@@ -319,13 +318,14 @@ exports.getDeployedAppIDs = async CouchDB => {
 /**
  * Utility function for the inverse of above.
  */
-exports.getDevAppIDs = async CouchDB => {
-  return (await exports.getAllApps(CouchDB, { idsOnly: true })).filter(id =>
+exports.getDevAppIDs = async () => {
+  return (await exports.getAllApps({ idsOnly: true })).filter(id =>
     exports.isDevAppID(id)
   )
 }
 
-exports.dbExists = async (CouchDB, dbName) => {
+exports.dbExists = async dbName => {
+  const CouchDB = getCouch()
   let exists = false
   try {
     const db = CouchDB(dbName, { skip_setup: true })
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/middleware/appTenancy.js b/packages/backend-core/src/middleware/appTenancy.js
index 30fc4f7453..60d7448af2 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/middleware/appTenancy.js
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/middleware/appTenancy.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const {
   updateTenantId,
   isTenantIdSet,
   DEFAULT_TENANT_ID,
+  updateAppId,
 } = require("../tenancy")
 const ContextFactory = require("../tenancy/FunctionContext")
 const { getTenantIDFromAppID } = require("../db/utils")
@@ -21,5 +22,6 @@ module.exports = () => {
     const appId = ctx.appId ? ctx.appId : ctx.user ? ctx.user.appId : null
     const tenantId = getTenantIDFromAppID(appId) || DEFAULT_TENANT_ID
     updateTenantId(tenantId)
+    updateAppId(appId)
   })
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/security/roles.js b/packages/backend-core/src/security/roles.js
index 8529dde6f4..2be5058cbb 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/security/roles.js
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/security/roles.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const { getDB } = require("../db")
 const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
 const { BUILTIN_PERMISSION_IDS } = require("./permissions")
 const {
@@ -7,6 +6,7 @@ const {
   DocumentTypes,
   SEPARATOR,
 } = require("../db/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("../tenancy/context")
 
 const BUILTIN_IDS = {
   ADMIN: "ADMIN",
@@ -111,11 +111,10 @@ exports.lowerBuiltinRoleID = (roleId1, roleId2) => {
 /**
  * Gets the role object, this is mainly useful for two purposes, to check if the level exists and
  * to check if the role inherits any others.
- * @param {string} appId The app in which to look for the role.
  * @param {string|null} roleId The level ID to lookup.
  * @returns {Promise<Role|object|null>} The role object, which may contain an "inherits" property.
  */
-exports.getRole = async (appId, roleId) => {
+exports.getRole = async roleId => {
   if (!roleId) {
     return null
   }
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ exports.getRole = async (appId, roleId) => {
     )
   }
   try {
-    const db = getDB(appId)
+    const db = getAppDB()
     const dbRole = await db.get(exports.getDBRoleID(roleId))
     role = Object.assign(role, dbRole)
     // finalise the ID
@@ -145,11 +144,11 @@ exports.getRole = async (appId, roleId) => {
 /**
  * Simple function to get all the roles based on the top level user role ID.
  */
-async function getAllUserRoles(appId, userRoleId) {
+async function getAllUserRoles(userRoleId) {
   if (!userRoleId) {
     return [BUILTIN_IDS.BASIC]
   }
-  let currentRole = await exports.getRole(appId, userRoleId)
+  let currentRole = await exports.getRole(userRoleId)
   let roles = currentRole ? [currentRole] : []
   let roleIds = [userRoleId]
   // get all the inherited roles
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ async function getAllUserRoles(appId, userRoleId) {
     roleIds.indexOf(currentRole.inherits) === -1
   ) {
     roleIds.push(currentRole.inherits)
-    currentRole = await exports.getRole(appId, currentRole.inherits)
+    currentRole = await exports.getRole(currentRole.inherits)
     roles.push(currentRole)
   }
   return roles
@@ -168,29 +167,23 @@ async function getAllUserRoles(appId, userRoleId) {
 /**
  * Returns an ordered array of the user's inherited role IDs, this can be used
  * to determine if a user can access something that requires a specific role.
- * @param {string} appId The ID of the application from which roles should be obtained.
  * @param {string} userRoleId The user's role ID, this can be found in their access token.
  * @param {object} opts Various options, such as whether to only retrieve the IDs (default true).
  * @returns {Promise<string[]>} returns an ordered array of the roles, with the first being their
  * highest level of access and the last being the lowest level.
  */
-exports.getUserRoleHierarchy = async (
-  appId,
-  userRoleId,
-  opts = { idOnly: true }
-) => {
+exports.getUserRoleHierarchy = async (userRoleId, opts = { idOnly: true }) => {
   // special case, if they don't have a role then they are a public user
-  const roles = await getAllUserRoles(appId, userRoleId)
+  const roles = await getAllUserRoles(userRoleId)
   return opts.idOnly ? roles.map(role => role._id) : roles
 }
 
 /**
  * Given an app ID this will retrieve all of the roles that are currently within that app.
- * @param {string} appId The ID of the app to retrieve the roles from.
  * @return {Promise<object[]>} An array of the role objects that were found.
  */
-exports.getAllRoles = async appId => {
-  const db = getDB(appId)
+exports.getAllRoles = async () => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const body = await db.allDocs(
     getRoleParams(null, {
       include_docs: true,
@@ -218,19 +211,17 @@ exports.getAllRoles = async appId => {
 }
 
 /**
- * This retrieves the required role/
- * @param appId
+ * This retrieves the required role
  * @param permLevel
  * @param resourceId
  * @param subResourceId
  * @return {Promise<{permissions}|Object>}
  */
 exports.getRequiredResourceRole = async (
-  appId,
   permLevel,
   { resourceId, subResourceId }
 ) => {
-  const roles = await exports.getAllRoles(appId)
+  const roles = await exports.getAllRoles()
   let main = [],
     sub = []
   for (let role of roles) {
@@ -251,8 +242,7 @@ exports.getRequiredResourceRole = async (
 }
 
 class AccessController {
-  constructor(appId) {
-    this.appId = appId
+  constructor() {
     this.userHierarchies = {}
   }
 
@@ -270,7 +260,7 @@ class AccessController {
     }
     let roleIds = this.userHierarchies[userRoleId]
     if (!roleIds) {
-      roleIds = await exports.getUserRoleHierarchy(this.appId, userRoleId)
+      roleIds = await exports.getUserRoleHierarchy(userRoleId)
       this.userHierarchies[userRoleId] = roleIds
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/FunctionContext.js b/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/FunctionContext.js
index d97a3a30b4..1a3f65056e 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/FunctionContext.js
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/FunctionContext.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ const { newid } = require("../hashing")
 const REQUEST_ID_KEY = "requestId"
 
 class FunctionContext {
-  static getMiddleware(updateCtxFn = null) {
-    const namespace = this.createNamespace()
+  static getMiddleware(updateCtxFn = null, contextName = "session") {
+    const namespace = this.createNamespace(contextName)
 
     return async function (ctx, next) {
       await new Promise(
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ class FunctionContext {
     }
   }
 
-  static run(callback) {
-    const namespace = this.createNamespace()
+  static run(callback, contextName = "session") {
+    const namespace = this.createNamespace(contextName)
 
     return namespace.runAndReturn(callback)
   }
 
-  static setOnContext(key, value) {
-    const namespace = this.createNamespace()
+  static setOnContext(key, value, contextName = "session") {
+    const namespace = this.createNamespace(contextName)
     namespace.set(key, value)
   }
 
@@ -55,16 +55,16 @@ class FunctionContext {
     }
   }
 
-  static destroyNamespace() {
+  static destroyNamespace(name = "session") {
     if (this._namespace) {
-      cls.destroyNamespace("session")
+      cls.destroyNamespace(name)
       this._namespace = null
     }
   }
 
-  static createNamespace() {
+  static createNamespace(name = "session") {
     if (!this._namespace) {
-      this._namespace = cls.createNamespace("session")
+      this._namespace = cls.createNamespace(name)
     }
     return this._namespace
   }
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/context.js b/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/context.js
index 01d1fdc604..ac2cfbeae9 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/context.js
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/tenancy/context.js
@@ -1,6 +1,25 @@
 const env = require("../environment")
 const { Headers } = require("../../constants")
 const cls = require("./FunctionContext")
+const { getCouch } = require("../db")
+const { getDeployedAppID, getDevelopmentAppID } = require("../db/utils")
+const { isEqual } = require("lodash")
+
+// some test cases call functions directly, need to
+// store an app ID to pretend there is a context
+let TEST_APP_ID = null
+
+const ContextKeys = {
+  TENANT_ID: "tenantId",
+  APP_ID: "appId",
+  // whatever the request app DB was
+  CURRENT_DB: "currentDb",
+  // get the prod app DB from the request
+  PROD_DB: "prodDb",
+  // get the dev app DB from the request
+  DEV_DB: "devDb",
+  DB_OPTS: "dbOpts",
+}
 
 exports.DEFAULT_TENANT_ID = "default"
 
@@ -12,13 +31,11 @@ exports.isMultiTenant = () => {
   return env.MULTI_TENANCY
 }
 
-const TENANT_ID = "tenantId"
-
 // used for automations, API endpoints should always be in context already
 exports.doInTenant = (tenantId, task) => {
   return cls.run(() => {
     // set the tenant id
-    cls.setOnContext(TENANT_ID, tenantId)
+    cls.setOnContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID, tenantId)
 
     // invoke the task
     return task()
@@ -26,7 +43,19 @@ exports.doInTenant = (tenantId, task) => {
 }
 
 exports.updateTenantId = tenantId => {
-  cls.setOnContext(TENANT_ID, tenantId)
+  cls.setOnContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID, tenantId)
+}
+
+exports.updateAppId = appId => {
+  try {
+    cls.setOnContext(ContextKeys.APP_ID, appId)
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (env.isTest()) {
+      TEST_APP_ID = appId
+    } else {
+      throw err
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 exports.setTenantId = (
@@ -36,7 +65,7 @@ exports.setTenantId = (
   let tenantId
   // exit early if not multi-tenant
   if (!exports.isMultiTenant()) {
-    cls.setOnContext(TENANT_ID, this.DEFAULT_TENANT_ID)
+    cls.setOnContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID, this.DEFAULT_TENANT_ID)
     return
   }
 
@@ -63,12 +92,12 @@ exports.setTenantId = (
   }
   // check tenant ID just incase no tenant was allowed
   if (tenantId) {
-    cls.setOnContext(TENANT_ID, tenantId)
+    cls.setOnContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID, tenantId)
   }
 }
 
 exports.isTenantIdSet = () => {
-  const tenantId = cls.getFromContext(TENANT_ID)
+  const tenantId = cls.getFromContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID)
   return !!tenantId
 }
 
@@ -76,9 +105,77 @@ exports.getTenantId = () => {
   if (!exports.isMultiTenant()) {
     return exports.DEFAULT_TENANT_ID
   }
-  const tenantId = cls.getFromContext(TENANT_ID)
+  const tenantId = cls.getFromContext(ContextKeys.TENANT_ID)
   if (!tenantId) {
     throw Error("Tenant id not found")
   }
   return tenantId
 }
+
+exports.getAppId = () => {
+  const foundId = cls.getFromContext(ContextKeys.APP_ID)
+  if (!foundId && env.isTest() && TEST_APP_ID) {
+    return TEST_APP_ID
+  } else {
+    return foundId
+  }
+}
+
+function getDB(key, opts) {
+  const dbOptsKey = `${key}${ContextKeys.DB_OPTS}`
+  let storedOpts = cls.getFromContext(dbOptsKey)
+  let db = cls.getFromContext(key)
+  if (db && isEqual(opts, storedOpts)) {
+    return db
+  }
+  const appId = exports.getAppId()
+  const CouchDB = getCouch()
+  let toUseAppId
+  switch (key) {
+    case ContextKeys.CURRENT_DB:
+      toUseAppId = appId
+      break
+    case ContextKeys.PROD_DB:
+      toUseAppId = getDeployedAppID(appId)
+      break
+    case ContextKeys.DEV_DB:
+      toUseAppId = getDevelopmentAppID(appId)
+      break
+  }
+  db = new CouchDB(toUseAppId, opts)
+  try {
+    cls.setOnContext(key, db)
+    if (opts) {
+      cls.setOnContext(dbOptsKey, opts)
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (!env.isTest()) {
+      throw err
+    }
+  }
+  return db
+}
+
+/**
+ * Opens the app database based on whatever the request
+ * contained, dev or prod.
+ */
+exports.getAppDB = opts => {
+  return getDB(ContextKeys.CURRENT_DB, opts)
+}
+
+/**
+ * This specifically gets the prod app ID, if the request
+ * contained a development app ID, this will open the prod one.
+ */
+exports.getProdAppDB = opts => {
+  return getDB(ContextKeys.PROD_DB, opts)
+}
+
+/**
+ * This specifically gets the dev app ID, if the request
+ * contained a prod app ID, this will open the dev one.
+ */
+exports.getDevAppDB = opts => {
+  return getDB(ContextKeys.DEV_DB, opts)
+}
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.js
index 7aaeebc025..9197fa30a1 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/application.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const env = require("../../environment")
 const packageJson = require("../../../package.json")
 const {
@@ -45,11 +44,13 @@ const { getTenantId, isMultiTenant } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const { syncGlobalUsers } = require("./user")
 const { app: appCache } = require("@budibase/backend-core/cache")
 const { cleanupAutomations } = require("../../automations/utils")
+const context = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const URL_REGEX_SLASH = /\/|\\/g
 
 // utility function, need to do away with this
-async function getLayouts(db) {
+async function getLayouts() {
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   return (
     await db.allDocs(
       getLayoutParams(null, {
@@ -59,7 +60,8 @@ async function getLayouts(db) {
   ).rows.map(row => row.doc)
 }
 
-async function getScreens(db) {
+async function getScreens() {
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   return (
     await db.allDocs(
       getScreenParams(null, {
@@ -116,8 +118,9 @@ async function createInstance(template) {
   const tenantId = isMultiTenant() ? getTenantId() : null
   const baseAppId = generateAppID(tenantId)
   const appId = generateDevAppID(baseAppId)
+  context.updateAppId(appId)
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   await db.put({
     _id: "_design/database",
     // view collation information, read before writing any complex views:
@@ -127,9 +130,9 @@ async function createInstance(template) {
 
   // NOTE: indexes need to be created before any tables/templates
   // add view for linked rows
-  await createLinkView(appId)
-  await createRoutingView(appId)
-  await createAllSearchIndex(appId)
+  await createLinkView()
+  await createRoutingView()
+  await createAllSearchIndex()
 
   // replicate the template data to the instance DB
   // this is currently very hard to test, downloading and importing template files
@@ -155,7 +158,7 @@ async function createInstance(template) {
 exports.fetch = async ctx => {
   const dev = ctx.query && ctx.query.status === AppStatus.DEV
   const all = ctx.query && ctx.query.status === AppStatus.ALL
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { dev, all })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ dev, all })
 
   // get the locks for all the dev apps
   if (dev || all) {
@@ -178,12 +181,11 @@ exports.fetch = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.fetchAppDefinition = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.params.appId)
-  const layouts = await getLayouts(db)
+  const layouts = await getLayouts()
   const userRoleId = getUserRoleId(ctx)
-  const accessController = new AccessController(ctx.params.appId)
+  const accessController = new AccessController()
   const screens = await accessController.checkScreensAccess(
-    await getScreens(db),
+    await getScreens(),
     userRoleId
   )
   ctx.body = {
@@ -194,15 +196,15 @@ exports.fetchAppDefinition = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.fetchAppPackage = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.params.appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   const application = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
-  const layouts = await getLayouts(db)
-  let screens = await getScreens(db)
+  const layouts = await getLayouts()
+  let screens = await getScreens()
 
   // Only filter screens if the user is not a builder
   if (!(ctx.user.builder && ctx.user.builder.global)) {
     const userRoleId = getUserRoleId(ctx)
-    const accessController = new AccessController(ctx.params.appId)
+    const accessController = new AccessController()
     screens = await accessController.checkScreensAccess(screens, userRoleId)
   }
 
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ exports.fetchAppPackage = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.create = async ctx => {
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { dev: true })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ dev: true })
   const name = ctx.request.body.name
   checkAppName(ctx, apps, name)
   const url = await getAppUrl(ctx)
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ exports.create = async ctx => {
   const instance = await createInstance(instanceConfig)
   const appId = instance._id
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   let _rev
   try {
     // if template there will be an existing doc
@@ -277,7 +279,7 @@ exports.create = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.update = async ctx => {
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { dev: true })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ dev: true })
   // validation
   const name = ctx.request.body.name
   checkAppName(ctx, apps, name, ctx.params.appId)
@@ -292,7 +294,7 @@ exports.update = async ctx => {
 
 exports.updateClient = async ctx => {
   // Get current app version
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.params.appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   const application = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
   const currentVersion = application.version
 
@@ -314,7 +316,7 @@ exports.updateClient = async ctx => {
 
 exports.revertClient = async ctx => {
   // Check app can be reverted
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.params.appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   const application = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
   if (!application.revertableVersion) {
     ctx.throw(400, "There is no version to revert to")
@@ -336,7 +338,7 @@ exports.revertClient = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.delete = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.params.appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
 
   const result = await db.destroy()
   /* istanbul ignore next */
@@ -364,7 +366,8 @@ exports.sync = async (ctx, next) => {
   const prodAppId = getDeployedAppID(appId)
 
   try {
-    const prodDb = new CouchDB(prodAppId, { skip_setup: true })
+    // specific case, want to make sure setup is skipped
+    const prodDb = context.getProdAppDB({ skip_setup: true })
     const info = await prodDb.info()
     if (info.error) throw info.error
   } catch (err) {
@@ -392,7 +395,7 @@ exports.sync = async (ctx, next) => {
   }
 
   // sync the users
-  await syncGlobalUsers(appId)
+  await syncGlobalUsers()
 
   if (error) {
     ctx.throw(400, error)
@@ -404,7 +407,7 @@ exports.sync = async (ctx, next) => {
 }
 
 const updateAppPackage = async (appPackage, appId) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
   const application = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
 
   const newAppPackage = { ...application, ...appPackage }
@@ -423,7 +426,7 @@ const updateAppPackage = async (appPackage, appId) => {
 }
 
 const createEmptyAppPackage = async (ctx, app) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(app.appId)
+  const db = context.getAppDB()
 
   let screensAndLayouts = []
   for (let layout of BASE_LAYOUTS) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/cloud.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/cloud.js
index ea6cc9b71e..38804f4d4a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/cloud.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/cloud.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const env = require("../../environment")
 const { getAllApps } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const {
   exportDB,
   sendTempFile,
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ exports.exportApps = async ctx => {
   if (env.SELF_HOSTED || !env.MULTI_TENANCY) {
     ctx.throw(400, "Exporting only allowed in multi-tenant cloud environments.")
   }
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { all: true })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ all: true })
   const globalDBString = await exportDB(getGlobalDBName(), {
     filter: doc => !doc._id.startsWith(DocumentTypes.USER),
   })
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ async function hasBeenImported() {
   if (!env.SELF_HOSTED || env.MULTI_TENANCY) {
     return true
   }
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { all: true })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ all: true })
   return apps.length !== 0
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/component.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/component.js
index 06cb2cd211..2d0aaea23a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/component.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/component.js
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { DocumentTypes } = require("../../db/utils")
 const { getComponentLibraryManifest } = require("../../utilities/fileSystem")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.fetchAppComponentDefinitions = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.params.appId || ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const app = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
 
   let componentManifests = await Promise.all(
     app.componentLibraries.map(async library => {
-      let manifest = await getComponentLibraryManifest(appId, library)
+      let manifest = await getComponentLibraryManifest(library)
 
       return {
         manifest,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/datasource.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/datasource.js
index 5ab3c0a865..999f322563 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/datasource.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/datasource.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const {
   generateDatasourceID,
   getDatasourceParams,
@@ -11,12 +10,11 @@ const { BuildSchemaErrors, InvalidColumns } = require("../../constants")
 const { integrations } = require("../../integrations")
 const { getDatasourceAndQuery } = require("./row/utils")
 const { invalidateDynamicVariables } = require("../../threads/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
-  const database = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
-
   // Get internal tables
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const internalTables = await db.allDocs(
     getTableParams(null, {
       include_docs: true,
@@ -31,7 +29,7 @@ exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
 
   // Get external datasources
   const datasources = (
-    await database.allDocs(
+    await db.allDocs(
       getDatasourceParams(null, {
         include_docs: true,
       })
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.buildSchemaFromDb = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasource = await db.get(ctx.params.datasourceId)
 
   const { tables, error } = await buildSchemaHelper(datasource)
@@ -98,7 +96,7 @@ const invalidateVariables = async (existingDatasource, updatedDatasource) => {
 }
 
 exports.update = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasourceId = ctx.params.datasourceId
   let datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
   const auth = datasource.config.auth
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ exports.update = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const plus = ctx.request.body.datasource.plus
   const fetchSchema = ctx.request.body.fetchSchema
 
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
 
   // Delete all queries for the datasource
   const queries = await db.allDocs(
@@ -184,7 +182,7 @@ exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.find = async function (ctx) {
-  const database = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const database = getAppDB()
   ctx.body = await database.get(ctx.params.datasourceId)
 }
 
@@ -192,7 +190,7 @@ exports.find = async function (ctx) {
 exports.query = async function (ctx) {
   const queryJson = ctx.request.body
   try {
-    ctx.body = await getDatasourceAndQuery(ctx.appId, queryJson)
+    ctx.body = await getDatasourceAndQuery(queryJson)
   } catch (err) {
     ctx.throw(400, err)
   }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/layout.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/layout.js
index c3cae1b6a7..a92eec424a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/layout.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/layout.js
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ const {
   EMPTY_LAYOUT,
   BASE_LAYOUT_PROP_IDS,
 } = require("../../constants/layouts")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { generateLayoutID, getScreenParams } = require("../../db/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let layout = ctx.request.body
 
   if (!layout.props) {
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const layoutId = ctx.params.layoutId,
     layoutRev = ctx.params.layoutRev
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/permission.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/permission.js
index 5c42fe77ef..0e37a3e7d3 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/permission.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/permission.js
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ const {
   getBuiltinRoles,
 } = require("@budibase/backend-core/roles")
 const { getRoleParams } = require("../../db/utils")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const {
   CURRENTLY_SUPPORTED_LEVELS,
   getBasePermissions,
 } = require("../../utilities/security")
 const { removeFromArray } = require("../../utilities")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const PermissionUpdateType = {
   REMOVE: "remove",
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ async function updatePermissionOnRole(
   { roleId, resourceId, level },
   updateType
 ) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const remove = updateType === PermissionUpdateType.REMOVE
   const isABuiltin = isBuiltin(roleId)
   const dbRoleId = getDBRoleID(roleId)
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ exports.fetchLevels = function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const roles = await getAllDBRoles(db)
   let permissions = {}
   // create an object with structure role ID -> resource ID -> level
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
 
 exports.getResourcePerms = async function (ctx) {
   const resourceId = ctx.params.resourceId
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const body = await db.allDocs(
     getRoleParams(null, {
       include_docs: true,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/role.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/role.js
index b79907031d..11b4b9a520 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/role.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/role.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const {
   Role,
   getRole,
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ const {
   getUserMetadataParams,
   InternalTables,
 } = require("../../db/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const UpdateRolesOptions = {
   CREATED: "created",
@@ -40,15 +40,15 @@ async function updateRolesOnUserTable(db, roleId, updateOption) {
 }
 
 exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
-  ctx.body = await getAllRoles(ctx.appId)
+  ctx.body = await getAllRoles()
 }
 
 exports.find = async function (ctx) {
-  ctx.body = await getRole(ctx.appId, ctx.params.roleId)
+  ctx.body = await getRole(ctx.params.roleId)
 }
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let { _id, name, inherits, permissionId } = ctx.request.body
   if (!_id) {
     _id = generateRoleID()
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const roleId = ctx.params.roleId
   if (isBuiltin(roleId)) {
     ctx.throw(400, "Cannot delete builtin role.")
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/routing.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/routing.js
index d45d33ed07..aeb728454b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/routing.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/routing.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ exports.fetch = async ctx => {
 exports.clientFetch = async ctx => {
   const routing = await getRoutingStructure(ctx.appId)
   let roleId = ctx.user.role._id
-  const roleIds = await getUserRoleHierarchy(ctx.appId, roleId)
+  const roleIds = await getUserRoleHierarchy(roleId)
   for (let topLevel of Object.values(routing.routes)) {
     for (let subpathKey of Object.keys(topLevel.subpaths)) {
       let found = false
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
index af199561dc..317511f508 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,19 @@ import {
   isRowId,
   convertRowId,
 } from "../../../integrations/utils"
+import { getDatasourceAndQuery } from "./utils"
+import {
+  DataSourceOperation,
+  FieldTypes,
+  RelationshipTypes,
+} from "../../../constants"
+import { breakExternalTableId, isSQL } from "../../../integrations/utils"
+import { processObjectSync }  from "@budibase/string-templates"
+// @ts-ignore
+import { cloneDeep } from "lodash/fp"
+import { processFormulas } from "../../../utilities/rowProcessor/utils"
+// @ts-ignore
+import { getAppDB } from "@budibase/backend-core/context"
 
 interface ManyRelationship {
   tableId?: string
@@ -38,18 +51,6 @@ interface RunConfig {
 }
 
 module External {
-  const { getDatasourceAndQuery } = require("./utils")
-  const {
-    DataSourceOperation,
-    FieldTypes,
-    RelationshipTypes,
-  } = require("../../../constants")
-  const { breakExternalTableId, isSQL } = require("../../../integrations/utils")
-  const { processObjectSync } = require("@budibase/string-templates")
-  const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
-  const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
-  const { processFormulas } = require("../../../utilities/rowProcessor/utils")
-
   function buildFilters(
     id: string | undefined,
     filters: SearchFilters,
@@ -210,19 +211,16 @@ module External {
   }
 
   class ExternalRequest {
-    private readonly appId: string
     private operation: Operation
     private tableId: string
     private datasource: Datasource
     private tables: { [key: string]: Table } = {}
 
     constructor(
-      appId: string,
       operation: Operation,
       tableId: string,
       datasource: Datasource
     ) {
-      this.appId = appId
       this.operation = operation
       this.tableId = tableId
       this.datasource = datasource
@@ -231,12 +229,14 @@ module External {
       }
     }
 
-    getTable(tableId: string | undefined): Table {
+    getTable(tableId: string | undefined): Table | undefined {
       if (!tableId) {
         throw "Table ID is unknown, cannot find table"
       }
       const { tableName } = breakExternalTableId(tableId)
-      return this.tables[tableName]
+      if (tableName) {
+        return this.tables[tableName]
+      }
     }
 
     inputProcessing(row: Row | undefined, table: Table) {
@@ -272,9 +272,9 @@ module External {
           newRow[key] = row[key]
           continue
         }
-        const { tableName: linkTableName } = breakExternalTableId(field.tableId)
+        const { tableName: linkTableName } = breakExternalTableId(field?.tableId)
         // table has to exist for many to many
-        if (!this.tables[linkTableName]) {
+        if (!linkTableName || !this.tables[linkTableName]) {
           continue
         }
         const linkTable = this.tables[linkTableName]
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ module External {
         }
         const { tableName: linkTableName } = breakExternalTableId(field.tableId)
         // no table to link to, this is not a valid relationships
-        if (!this.tables[linkTableName]) {
+        if (!linkTableName || !this.tables[linkTableName]) {
           continue
         }
         const linkTable = this.tables[linkTableName]
@@ -460,6 +460,9 @@ module External {
     async lookupRelations(tableId: string, row: Row) {
       const related: { [key: string]: any } = {}
       const { tableName } = breakExternalTableId(tableId)
+      if (!tableName) {
+        return related
+      }
       const table = this.tables[tableName]
       // @ts-ignore
       const primaryKey = table.primary[0]
@@ -484,7 +487,7 @@ module External {
         if (!lookupField || !row[lookupField]) {
           continue
         }
-        const response = await getDatasourceAndQuery(this.appId, {
+        const response = await getDatasourceAndQuery({
           endpoint: getEndpoint(tableId, DataSourceOperation.READ),
           filters: {
             equal: {
@@ -515,28 +518,30 @@ module External {
       row: Row,
       relationships: ManyRelationship[]
     ) {
-      const { appId } = this
       // if we're creating (in a through table) need to wipe the existing ones first
       const promises = []
       const related = await this.lookupRelations(mainTableId, row)
       for (let relationship of relationships) {
         const { key, tableId, isUpdate, id, ...rest } = relationship
-        const body = processObjectSync(rest, row)
+        const body: { [key: string]: any } = processObjectSync(rest, row, {})
         const linkTable = this.getTable(tableId)
         // @ts-ignore
-        const linkPrimary = linkTable.primary[0]
+        const linkPrimary = linkTable?.primary[0]
+        if (!linkTable || !linkPrimary) {
+          return
+        }
         const rows = related[key].rows || []
         const found = rows.find(
           (row: { [key: string]: any }) =>
             row[linkPrimary] === relationship.id ||
-            row[linkPrimary] === body[linkPrimary]
+            row[linkPrimary] === body?.[linkPrimary]
         )
         const operation = isUpdate
           ? DataSourceOperation.UPDATE
           : DataSourceOperation.CREATE
         if (!found) {
           promises.push(
-            getDatasourceAndQuery(appId, {
+            getDatasourceAndQuery({
               endpoint: getEndpoint(tableId, operation),
               // if we're doing many relationships then we're writing, only one response
               body,
@@ -552,9 +557,9 @@ module External {
       for (let [colName, { isMany, rows, tableId }] of Object.entries(
         related
       )) {
-        const table: Table = this.getTable(tableId)
+        const table: Table | undefined = this.getTable(tableId)
         // if its not the foreign key skip it, nothing to do
-        if (table.primary && table.primary.indexOf(colName) !== -1) {
+        if (!table || (table.primary && table.primary.indexOf(colName) !== -1)) {
           continue
         }
         for (let row of rows) {
@@ -566,7 +571,7 @@ module External {
               : DataSourceOperation.UPDATE
             const body = isMany ? null : { [colName]: null }
             promises.push(
-              getDatasourceAndQuery(this.appId, {
+              getDatasourceAndQuery({
                 endpoint: getEndpoint(tableId, op),
                 body,
                 filters,
@@ -605,20 +610,25 @@ module External {
           continue
         }
         const { tableName: linkTableName } = breakExternalTableId(field.tableId)
-        const linkTable = this.tables[linkTableName]
-        if (linkTable) {
-          const linkedFields = extractRealFields(linkTable, fields)
-          fields = fields.concat(linkedFields)
+        if (linkTableName) {
+          const linkTable = this.tables[linkTableName]
+          if (linkTable) {
+            const linkedFields = extractRealFields(linkTable, fields)
+            fields = fields.concat(linkedFields)
+          }
         }
       }
       return fields
     }
 
     async run(config: RunConfig) {
-      const { appId, operation, tableId } = this
+      const { operation, tableId } = this
       let { datasourceId, tableName } = breakExternalTableId(tableId)
+      if (!tableName) {
+        throw "Unable to run without a table name"
+      }
       if (!this.datasource) {
-        const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+        const db = getAppDB()
         this.datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
         if (!this.datasource || !this.datasource.entities) {
           throw "No tables found, fetch tables before query."
@@ -670,7 +680,7 @@ module External {
         },
       }
       // can't really use response right now
-      const response = await getDatasourceAndQuery(appId, json)
+      const response = await getDatasourceAndQuery(json)
       // handle many to many relationships now if we know the ID (could be auto increment)
       if (
         operation !== DataSourceOperation.READ &&
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.js
index b8620f7bc3..4e79975893 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/external.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const {
 const ExternalRequest = require("./ExternalRequest")
 const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 
-async function handleRequest(appId, operation, tableId, opts = {}) {
+async function handleRequest(operation, tableId, opts = {}) {
   // make sure the filters are cleaned up, no empty strings for equals, fuzzy or string
   if (opts && opts.filters) {
     for (let filterField of NoEmptyFilterStrings) {
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ async function handleRequest(appId, operation, tableId, opts = {}) {
       }
     }
   }
-  return new ExternalRequest(appId, operation, tableId, opts.datasource).run(
-    opts
-  )
+  return new ExternalRequest(operation, tableId, opts.datasource).run(opts)
 }
 
 exports.handleRequest = handleRequest
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
index 75caaf2fda..8449530ce3 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const linkRows = require("../../../db/linkedRows")
 const {
   getRowParams,
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ const {
   getFromMemoryDoc,
 } = require("../view/utils")
 const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const CALCULATION_TYPES = {
   SUM: "sum",
@@ -106,8 +106,7 @@ async function getView(db, viewName) {
 }
 
 exports.patch = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const inputs = ctx.request.body
   const tableId = inputs.tableId
   const isUserTable = tableId === InternalTables.USER_METADATA
@@ -146,14 +145,13 @@ exports.patch = async ctx => {
 
   // returned row is cleaned and prepared for writing to DB
   row = await linkRows.updateLinks({
-    appId,
     eventType: linkRows.EventType.ROW_UPDATE,
     row,
     tableId: row.tableId,
     table,
   })
   // check if any attachments removed
-  await cleanupAttachments(appId, table, { oldRow, row })
+  await cleanupAttachments(table, { oldRow, row })
 
   if (isUserTable) {
     // the row has been updated, need to put it into the ctx
@@ -166,8 +164,7 @@ exports.patch = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let inputs = ctx.request.body
   inputs.tableId = ctx.params.tableId
 
@@ -189,7 +186,6 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 
   // make sure link rows are up to date
   row = await linkRows.updateLinks({
-    appId,
     eventType: linkRows.EventType.ROW_SAVE,
     row,
     tableId: row.tableId,
@@ -200,7 +196,6 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.fetchView = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
   const viewName = ctx.params.viewName
 
   // if this is a table view being looked for just transfer to that
@@ -209,7 +204,7 @@ exports.fetchView = async ctx => {
     return exports.fetch(ctx)
   }
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const { calculation, group, field } = ctx.query
   const viewInfo = await getView(db, viewName)
   let response
@@ -263,8 +258,7 @@ exports.fetchView = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.fetch = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
 
   const tableId = ctx.params.tableId
   let table = await db.get(tableId)
@@ -273,17 +267,15 @@ exports.fetch = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.find = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const table = await db.get(ctx.params.tableId)
-  let row = await findRow(ctx, db, ctx.params.tableId, ctx.params.rowId)
+  let row = await findRow(ctx, ctx.params.tableId, ctx.params.rowId)
   row = await outputProcessing(ctx, table, row)
   return row
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const { _id, _rev } = ctx.request.body
   let row = await db.get(_id)
 
@@ -295,13 +287,12 @@ exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
   row = await outputProcessing(ctx, table, row, { squash: false })
   // now remove the relationships
   await linkRows.updateLinks({
-    appId,
     eventType: linkRows.EventType.ROW_DELETE,
     row,
     tableId: row.tableId,
   })
   // remove any attachments that were on the row from object storage
-  await cleanupAttachments(appId, table, { row })
+  await cleanupAttachments(table, { row })
 
   let response
   if (ctx.params.tableId === InternalTables.USER_METADATA) {
@@ -317,8 +308,7 @@ exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.bulkDestroy = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const tableId = ctx.params.tableId
   const table = await db.get(tableId)
   let { rows } = ctx.request.body
@@ -330,7 +320,6 @@ exports.bulkDestroy = async ctx => {
   // remove the relationships first
   let updates = rows.map(row =>
     linkRows.updateLinks({
-      appId,
       eventType: linkRows.EventType.ROW_DELETE,
       row,
       tableId: row.tableId,
@@ -349,7 +338,7 @@ exports.bulkDestroy = async ctx => {
     await db.bulkDocs(rows.map(row => ({ ...row, _deleted: true })))
   }
   // remove any attachments that were on the rows from object storage
-  await cleanupAttachments(appId, table, { rows })
+  await cleanupAttachments(table, { rows })
   await Promise.all(updates)
   return { response: { ok: true }, rows }
 }
@@ -360,25 +349,24 @@ exports.search = async ctx => {
     return { rows: await exports.fetch(ctx) }
   }
 
-  const appId = ctx.appId
   const { tableId } = ctx.params
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const { paginate, query, ...params } = ctx.request.body
   params.version = ctx.version
   params.tableId = tableId
 
   let response
   if (paginate) {
-    response = await paginatedSearch(appId, query, params)
+    response = await paginatedSearch(query, params)
   } else {
-    response = await fullSearch(appId, query, params)
+    response = await fullSearch(query, params)
   }
 
   // Enrich search results with relationships
   if (response.rows && response.rows.length) {
     // enrich with global users if from users table
     if (tableId === InternalTables.USER_METADATA) {
-      response.rows = await getGlobalUsersFromMetadata(appId, response.rows)
+      response.rows = await getGlobalUsersFromMetadata(response.rows)
     }
     const table = await db.get(tableId)
     response.rows = await outputProcessing(ctx, table, response.rows)
@@ -389,25 +377,22 @@ exports.search = async ctx => {
 
 exports.validate = async ctx => {
   return validate({
-    appId: ctx.appId,
     tableId: ctx.params.tableId,
     row: ctx.request.body,
   })
 }
 
 exports.fetchEnrichedRow = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const tableId = ctx.params.tableId
   const rowId = ctx.params.rowId
   // need table to work out where links go in row
   let [table, row] = await Promise.all([
     db.get(tableId),
-    findRow(ctx, db, tableId, rowId),
+    findRow(ctx, tableId, rowId),
   ])
   // get the link docs
   const linkVals = await linkRows.getLinkDocuments({
-    appId,
     tableId,
     rowId,
   })
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internalSearch.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internalSearch.js
index 3a2586331a..21991f4de3 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internalSearch.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internalSearch.js
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 const { SearchIndexes } = require("../../../db/utils")
 const fetch = require("node-fetch")
 const { getCouchUrl } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
+const { getAppId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 /**
  * Class to build lucene query URLs.
  * Optionally takes a base lucene query object.
  */
 class QueryBuilder {
-  constructor(appId, base) {
-    this.appId = appId
+  constructor(base) {
     this.query = {
       string: {},
       fuzzy: {},
@@ -233,7 +233,8 @@ class QueryBuilder {
   }
 
   async run() {
-    const url = `${getCouchUrl()}/${this.appId}/_design/database/_search/${
+    const appId = getAppId()
+    const url = `${getCouchUrl()}/${appId}/_design/database/_search/${
       SearchIndexes.ROWS
     }`
     const body = this.buildSearchBody()
@@ -270,7 +271,6 @@ const runQuery = async (url, body) => {
  * Gets round the fixed limit of 200 results from a query by fetching as many
  * pages as required and concatenating the results. This recursively operates
  * until enough results have been found.
- * @param appId {string} The app ID to search
  * @param query {object} The JSON query structure
  * @param params {object} The search params including:
  *   tableId {string} The table ID to search
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ const runQuery = async (url, body) => {
  *   rows {array|null} Current results in the recursive search
  * @returns {Promise<*[]|*>}
  */
-const recursiveSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
+const recursiveSearch = async (query, params) => {
   const bookmark = params.bookmark
   const rows = params.rows || []
   if (rows.length >= params.limit) {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ const recursiveSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
   if (rows.length > params.limit - 200) {
     pageSize = params.limit - rows.length
   }
-  const page = await new QueryBuilder(appId, query)
+  const page = await new QueryBuilder(query)
     .setVersion(params.version)
     .setTable(params.tableId)
     .setBookmark(bookmark)
@@ -313,14 +313,13 @@ const recursiveSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
     bookmark: page.bookmark,
     rows: [...rows, ...page.rows],
   }
-  return await recursiveSearch(appId, query, newParams)
+  return await recursiveSearch(query, newParams)
 }
 
 /**
  * Performs a paginated search. A bookmark will be returned to allow the next
  * page to be fetched. There is a max limit off 200 results per page in a
  * paginated search.
- * @param appId {string} The app ID to search
  * @param query {object} The JSON query structure
  * @param params {object} The search params including:
  *   tableId {string} The table ID to search
@@ -332,13 +331,13 @@ const recursiveSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
  *   bookmark {string} The bookmark to resume from
  * @returns {Promise<{hasNextPage: boolean, rows: *[]}>}
  */
-exports.paginatedSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
+exports.paginatedSearch = async (query, params) => {
   let limit = params.limit
   if (limit == null || isNaN(limit) || limit < 0) {
     limit = 50
   }
   limit = Math.min(limit, 200)
-  const search = new QueryBuilder(appId, query)
+  const search = new QueryBuilder(query)
     .setVersion(params.version)
     .setTable(params.tableId)
     .setSort(params.sort)
@@ -367,7 +366,6 @@ exports.paginatedSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
  * desired amount of results. There is a limit of 1000 results to avoid
  * heavy performance hits, and to avoid client components breaking from
  * handling too much data.
- * @param appId {string} The app ID to search
  * @param query {object} The JSON query structure
  * @param params {object} The search params including:
  *   tableId {string} The table ID to search
@@ -378,12 +376,12 @@ exports.paginatedSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
  *   limit {number} The desired number of results
  * @returns {Promise<{rows: *}>}
  */
-exports.fullSearch = async (appId, query, params) => {
+exports.fullSearch = async (query, params) => {
   let limit = params.limit
   if (limit == null || isNaN(limit) || limit < 0) {
     limit = 1000
   }
   params.limit = Math.min(limit, 1000)
-  const rows = await recursiveSearch(appId, query, params)
+  const rows = await recursiveSearch(query, params)
   return { rows }
 }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.js
index 51bc03eba4..4235e70127 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 const validateJs = require("validate.js")
 const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const { InternalTables } = require("../../../db/utils")
 const userController = require("../user")
 const { FieldTypes } = require("../../../constants")
 const { processStringSync } = require("@budibase/string-templates")
 const { makeExternalQuery } = require("../../../integrations/base/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 validateJs.extend(validateJs.validators.datetime, {
   parse: function (value) {
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ validateJs.extend(validateJs.validators.datetime, {
   },
 })
 
-exports.getDatasourceAndQuery = async (appId, json) => {
+exports.getDatasourceAndQuery = async json => {
   const datasourceId = json.endpoint.datasourceId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
   return makeExternalQuery(datasource, json)
 }
 
-exports.findRow = async (ctx, db, tableId, rowId) => {
+exports.findRow = async (ctx, tableId, rowId) => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let row
   // TODO remove special user case in future
   if (tableId === InternalTables.USER_METADATA) {
@@ -42,9 +43,9 @@ exports.findRow = async (ctx, db, tableId, rowId) => {
   return row
 }
 
-exports.validate = async ({ appId, tableId, row, table }) => {
+exports.validate = async ({ tableId, row, table }) => {
   if (!table) {
-    const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+    const db = getAppDB()
     table = await db.get(tableId)
   }
   const errors = {}
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/screen.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/screen.js
index 5e0eeb5176..e166ab3eb8 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/screen.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/screen.js
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { getScreenParams, generateScreenID } = require("../../db/utils")
 const { AccessController } = require("@budibase/backend-core/roles")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.fetch = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
 
   const screens = (
     await db.allDocs(
@@ -14,15 +13,14 @@ exports.fetch = async ctx => {
     )
   ).rows.map(element => element.doc)
 
-  ctx.body = await new AccessController(appId).checkScreensAccess(
+  ctx.body = await new AccessController().checkScreensAccess(
     screens,
     ctx.user.role._id
   )
 }
 
 exports.save = async ctx => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let screen = ctx.request.body
 
   if (!screen._id) {
@@ -39,7 +37,7 @@ exports.save = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   await db.remove(ctx.params.screenId, ctx.params.screenRev)
   ctx.body = {
     message: "Screen deleted successfully",
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/index.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/index.js
index 11bb14e282..cafe999150 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/index.js
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ const uuid = require("uuid")
 const { ObjectStoreBuckets } = require("../../../constants")
 const { processString } = require("@budibase/string-templates")
 const { getAllApps } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const {
   loadHandlebarsFile,
   NODE_MODULES_PATH,
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ const { clientLibraryPath } = require("../../../utilities")
 const { upload } = require("../../../utilities/fileSystem")
 const { attachmentsRelativeURL } = require("../../../utilities")
 const { DocumentTypes } = require("../../../db/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 const AWS = require("aws-sdk")
 const AWS_REGION = env.AWS_REGION ? env.AWS_REGION : "eu-west-1"
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async function getAppIdFromUrl(ctx) {
   let possibleAppUrl = `/${encodeURI(ctx.params.appId).toLowerCase()}`
 
   // search prod apps for a url that matches, exclude dev where id is always used
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { dev: false })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ dev: false })
   const app = apps.filter(
     a => a.url && a.url.toLowerCase() === possibleAppUrl
   )[0]
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ exports.uploadFile = async function (ctx) {
 exports.serveApp = async function (ctx) {
   let appId = await getAppIdFromUrl(ctx)
   const App = require("./templates/BudibaseApp.svelte").default
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId, { skip_setup: true })
+  const db = getAppDB({ skip_setup: true })
   const appInfo = await db.get(DocumentTypes.APP_METADATA)
 
   const { head, html, css } = App.render({
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ exports.serveClientLibrary = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.getSignedUploadURL = async function (ctx) {
-  const database = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const database = getAppDB()
 
   // Ensure datasource is valid
   let datasource
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/external.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/external.js
index 2453ca7a37..b27eebb0c4 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/external.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/external.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const {
   buildExternalTableId,
   breakExternalTableId,
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ const { makeExternalQuery } = require("../../../integrations/base/utils")
 const { cloneDeep } = require("lodash/fp")
 const csvParser = require("../../../utilities/csvParser")
 const { handleRequest } = require("../row/external")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 async function makeTableRequest(
   datasource,
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ function isRelationshipSetup(column) {
 }
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
   const table = ctx.request.body
   // can't do this right now
   delete table.dataImport
@@ -176,14 +175,14 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 
   let oldTable
   if (ctx.request.body && ctx.request.body._id) {
-    oldTable = await getTable(appId, ctx.request.body._id)
+    oldTable = await getTable(ctx.request.body._id)
   }
 
   if (hasTypeChanged(tableToSave, oldTable)) {
     ctx.throw(400, "A column type has changed.")
   }
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
   const oldTables = cloneDeep(datasource.entities)
   const tables = datasource.entities
@@ -267,14 +266,13 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const tableToDelete = await getTable(appId, ctx.params.tableId)
+  const tableToDelete = await getTable(ctx.params.tableId)
   if (!tableToDelete || !tableToDelete.created) {
     ctx.throw(400, "Cannot delete tables which weren't created in Budibase.")
   }
   const datasourceId = getDatasourceId(tableToDelete)
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
   const tables = datasource.entities
 
@@ -290,8 +288,7 @@ exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.bulkImport = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const table = await getTable(appId, ctx.params.tableId)
+  const table = await getTable(ctx.params.tableId)
   const { dataImport } = ctx.request.body
   if (!dataImport || !dataImport.schema || !dataImport.csvString) {
     ctx.throw(400, "Provided data import information is invalid.")
@@ -300,7 +297,7 @@ exports.bulkImport = async function (ctx) {
     ...dataImport,
     existingTable: table,
   })
-  await handleRequest(appId, DataSourceOperation.BULK_CREATE, table._id, {
+  await handleRequest(DataSourceOperation.BULK_CREATE, table._id, {
     rows,
   })
   return table
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.js
index 20dc10017d..f3493edb3b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const internal = require("./internal")
 const external = require("./external")
 const csvParser = require("../../../utilities/csvParser")
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ const {
   BudibaseInternalDB,
 } = require("../../../db/utils")
 const { getTable } = require("./utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 function pickApi({ tableId, table }) {
   if (table && !tableId) {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function pickApi({ tableId, table }) {
 
 // covers both internal and external
 exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
 
   const internalTables = await db.allDocs(
     getTableParams(null, {
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ exports.fetch = async function (ctx) {
 
 exports.find = async function (ctx) {
   const tableId = ctx.params.id
-  ctx.body = await getTable(ctx.appId, tableId)
+  ctx.body = await getTable(tableId)
 }
 
 exports.save = async function (ctx) {
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ exports.validateCSVSchema = async function (ctx) {
   const { csvString, schema = {}, tableId } = ctx.request.body
   let existingTable
   if (tableId) {
-    existingTable = await getTable(ctx.appId, tableId)
+    existingTable = await getTable(tableId)
   }
   let result = await csvParser.parse(csvString, schema)
   if (existingTable) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/internal.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/internal.js
index 9f09e78219..7f7fe1cb3c 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/internal.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/internal.js
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ exports.save = async function (ctx) {
   // saving a table is a complex operation, involving many different steps, this
   // has been broken out into a utility to make it more obvious/easier to manipulate
   const tableSaveFunctions = new TableSaveFunctions({
-    db,
-    ctx,
+    user: ctx.user,
     oldTable,
     dataImport,
   })
@@ -145,9 +144,8 @@ exports.destroy = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.bulkImport = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const table = await getTable(appId, ctx.params.tableId)
+  const table = await getTable(ctx.params.tableId)
   const { dataImport } = ctx.request.body
-  await handleDataImport(appId, ctx.user, table, dataImport)
+  await handleDataImport(ctx.user, table, dataImport)
   return table
 }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.js
index 86e2837e15..76dbada59a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/utils.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const csvParser = require("../../../utilities/csvParser")
 const {
   getRowParams,
@@ -17,8 +16,10 @@ const {
 const { getViews, saveView } = require("../view/utils")
 const viewTemplate = require("../view/viewBuilder")
 const usageQuota = require("../../../utilities/usageQuota")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
-exports.checkForColumnUpdates = async (db, oldTable, updatedTable) => {
+exports.checkForColumnUpdates = async (oldTable, updatedTable) => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let updatedRows = []
   const rename = updatedTable._rename
   let deletedColumns = []
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ exports.checkForColumnUpdates = async (db, oldTable, updatedTable) => {
     })
 
     // Update views
-    await exports.checkForViewUpdates(db, updatedTable, rename, deletedColumns)
+    await exports.checkForViewUpdates(updatedTable, rename, deletedColumns)
     delete updatedTable._rename
   }
   return { rows: updatedRows, table: updatedTable }
@@ -73,12 +74,12 @@ exports.makeSureTableUpToDate = (table, tableToSave) => {
   return tableToSave
 }
 
-exports.handleDataImport = async (appId, user, table, dataImport) => {
+exports.handleDataImport = async (user, table, dataImport) => {
   if (!dataImport || !dataImport.csvString) {
     return table
   }
 
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   // Populate the table with rows imported from CSV in a bulk update
   const data = await csvParser.transform({
     ...dataImport,
@@ -123,8 +124,8 @@ exports.handleDataImport = async (appId, user, table, dataImport) => {
   return table
 }
 
-exports.handleSearchIndexes = async (appId, table) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.handleSearchIndexes = async table => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   // create relevant search indexes
   if (table.indexes && table.indexes.length > 0) {
     const currentIndexes = await db.getIndexes()
@@ -181,12 +182,9 @@ exports.checkStaticTables = table => {
 }
 
 class TableSaveFunctions {
-  constructor({ db, ctx, oldTable, dataImport }) {
-    this.db = db
-    this.ctx = ctx
-    if (this.ctx && this.ctx.user) {
-      this.appId = this.ctx.appId
-    }
+  constructor({ user, oldTable, dataImport }) {
+    this.db = getAppDB()
+    this.user = user
     this.oldTable = oldTable
     this.dataImport = dataImport
     // any rows that need updated
@@ -204,24 +202,15 @@ class TableSaveFunctions {
 
   // when confirmed valid
   async mid(table) {
-    let response = await exports.checkForColumnUpdates(
-      this.db,
-      this.oldTable,
-      table
-    )
+    let response = await exports.checkForColumnUpdates(this.oldTable, table)
     this.rows = this.rows.concat(response.rows)
     return table
   }
 
   // after saving
   async after(table) {
-    table = await exports.handleSearchIndexes(this.appId, table)
-    table = await exports.handleDataImport(
-      this.appId,
-      this.ctx.user,
-      table,
-      this.dataImport
-    )
+    table = await exports.handleSearchIndexes(table)
+    table = await exports.handleDataImport(this.user, table, this.dataImport)
     return table
   }
 
@@ -230,8 +219,8 @@ class TableSaveFunctions {
   }
 }
 
-exports.getAllExternalTables = async (appId, datasourceId) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.getAllExternalTables = async datasourceId => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
   if (!datasource || !datasource.entities) {
     throw "Datasource is not configured fully."
@@ -239,25 +228,25 @@ exports.getAllExternalTables = async (appId, datasourceId) => {
   return datasource.entities
 }
 
-exports.getExternalTable = async (appId, datasourceId, tableName) => {
-  const entities = await exports.getAllExternalTables(appId, datasourceId)
+exports.getExternalTable = async (datasourceId, tableName) => {
+  const entities = await exports.getAllExternalTables(datasourceId)
   return entities[tableName]
 }
 
-exports.getTable = async (appId, tableId) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.getTable = async tableId => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   if (isExternalTable(tableId)) {
     let { datasourceId, tableName } = breakExternalTableId(tableId)
     const datasource = await db.get(datasourceId)
-    const table = await exports.getExternalTable(appId, datasourceId, tableName)
+    const table = await exports.getExternalTable(datasourceId, tableName)
     return { ...table, sql: isSQL(datasource) }
   } else {
     return db.get(tableId)
   }
 }
 
-exports.checkForViewUpdates = async (db, table, rename, deletedColumns) => {
-  const views = await getViews(db)
+exports.checkForViewUpdates = async (table, rename, deletedColumns) => {
+  const views = await getViews()
   const tableViews = views.filter(view => view.meta.tableId === table._id)
 
   // Check each table view to see if impacted by this table action
@@ -319,7 +308,7 @@ exports.checkForViewUpdates = async (db, table, rename, deletedColumns) => {
     // Update view if required
     if (needsUpdated) {
       const newViewTemplate = viewTemplate(view.meta)
-      await saveView(db, null, view.name, newViewTemplate)
+      await saveView(null, view.name, newViewTemplate)
       if (!newViewTemplate.meta.schema) {
         newViewTemplate.meta.schema = table.schema
       }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
index d87afc4309..31194c3e96 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const {
   generateUserMetadataID,
   getUserMetadataParams,
@@ -15,8 +14,10 @@ const {
 } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
 const { doesDatabaseExist } = require("../../utilities")
 const { UserStatus } = require("@budibase/backend-core/constants")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
-async function rawMetadata(db) {
+async function rawMetadata() {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   return (
     await db.allDocs(
       getUserMetadataParams(null, {
@@ -54,13 +55,10 @@ function combineMetadataAndUser(user, metadata) {
   return null
 }
 
-exports.syncGlobalUsers = async appId => {
+exports.syncGlobalUsers = async () => {
   // sync user metadata
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
-  const [users, metadata] = await Promise.all([
-    getGlobalUsers(appId),
-    rawMetadata(db),
-  ])
+  const db = getAppDB()
+  const [users, metadata] = await Promise.all([getGlobalUsers(), rawMetadata()])
   const toWrite = []
   for (let user of users) {
     const combined = await combineMetadataAndUser(user, metadata)
@@ -94,7 +92,7 @@ exports.syncUser = async function (ctx) {
   let prodAppIds
   // if they are a builder then get all production app IDs
   if ((user.builder && user.builder.global) || deleting) {
-    prodAppIds = await getDeployedAppIDs(CouchDB)
+    prodAppIds = await getDeployedAppIDs()
   } else {
     prodAppIds = Object.entries(roles)
       .filter(entry => entry[1] !== BUILTIN_ROLE_IDS.PUBLIC)
@@ -107,7 +105,7 @@ exports.syncUser = async function (ctx) {
       if (!(await doesDatabaseExist(appId))) {
         continue
       }
-      const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+      const db = getAppDB()
       const metadataId = generateUserMetadataID(userId)
       let metadata
       try {
@@ -143,8 +141,8 @@ exports.syncUser = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.fetchMetadata = async function (ctx) {
-  const database = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
-  const global = await getGlobalUsers(ctx.appId)
+  const database = getAppDB()
+  const global = await getGlobalUsers()
   const metadata = await rawMetadata(database)
   const users = []
   for (let user of global) {
@@ -171,8 +169,7 @@ exports.updateSelfMetadata = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.updateMetadata = async function (ctx) {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const user = ctx.request.body
   // this isn't applicable to the user
   delete user.roles
@@ -184,7 +181,7 @@ exports.updateMetadata = async function (ctx) {
 }
 
 exports.destroyMetadata = async function (ctx) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   try {
     const dbUser = await db.get(ctx.params.id)
     await db.remove(dbUser._id, dbUser._rev)
@@ -207,7 +204,7 @@ exports.setFlag = async function (ctx) {
     ctx.throw(400, "Must supply a 'flag' field in request body.")
   }
   const flagDocId = generateUserFlagID(userId)
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let doc
   try {
     doc = await db.get(flagDocId)
@@ -222,7 +219,7 @@ exports.setFlag = async function (ctx) {
 exports.getFlags = async function (ctx) {
   const userId = ctx.user._id
   const docId = generateUserFlagID(userId)
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let doc
   try {
     doc = await db.get(docId)
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/index.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/index.js
index e3232323bf..fd6b32f3d6 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/index.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const viewTemplate = require("./viewBuilder")
 const { apiFileReturn } = require("../../../utilities/fileSystem")
 const exporters = require("./exporters")
@@ -6,14 +5,14 @@ const { saveView, getView, getViews, deleteView } = require("./utils")
 const { fetchView } = require("../row")
 const { getTable } = require("../table/utils")
 const { FieldTypes } = require("../../../constants")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.fetch = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
-  ctx.body = await getViews(db)
+  ctx.body = await getViews()
 }
 
 exports.save = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const { originalName, ...viewToSave } = ctx.request.body
   const view = viewTemplate(viewToSave)
 
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ exports.save = async ctx => {
     ctx.throw(400, "Cannot create view without a name")
   }
 
-  await saveView(db, originalName, viewToSave.name, view)
+  await saveView(originalName, viewToSave.name, view)
 
   // add views to table document
   const table = await db.get(ctx.request.body.tableId)
@@ -42,9 +41,9 @@ exports.save = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.destroy = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const viewName = decodeURI(ctx.params.viewName)
-  const view = await deleteView(db, viewName)
+  const view = await deleteView(viewName)
   const table = await db.get(view.meta.tableId)
   delete table.views[viewName]
   await db.put(table)
@@ -53,9 +52,8 @@ exports.destroy = async ctx => {
 }
 
 exports.exportView = async ctx => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
   const viewName = decodeURI(ctx.query.view)
-  const view = await getView(db, viewName)
+  const view = await getView(viewName)
 
   const format = ctx.query.format
   if (!format || !Object.values(exporters.ExportFormats).includes(format)) {
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ exports.exportView = async ctx => {
   let schema = view && view.meta && view.meta.schema
   if (!schema) {
     const tableId = ctx.params.tableId || view.meta.tableId
-    const table = await getTable(ctx.appId, tableId)
+    const table = await getTable(tableId)
     schema = table.schema
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/utils.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/utils.js
index 27fccaf47f..59d169ef7f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/utils.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/view/utils.js
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ const {
   SEPARATOR,
 } = require("../../../db/utils")
 const env = require("../../../environment")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
-exports.getView = async (db, viewName) => {
+exports.getView = async viewName => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   if (env.SELF_HOSTED) {
     const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
     return designDoc.views[viewName]
@@ -22,7 +24,8 @@ exports.getView = async (db, viewName) => {
   }
 }
 
-exports.getViews = async db => {
+exports.getViews = async () => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const response = []
   if (env.SELF_HOSTED) {
     const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
@@ -54,7 +57,8 @@ exports.getViews = async db => {
   return response
 }
 
-exports.saveView = async (db, originalName, viewName, viewTemplate) => {
+exports.saveView = async (originalName, viewName, viewTemplate) => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   if (env.SELF_HOSTED) {
     const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
     designDoc.views = {
@@ -91,7 +95,8 @@ exports.saveView = async (db, originalName, viewName, viewTemplate) => {
   }
 }
 
-exports.deleteView = async (db, viewName) => {
+exports.deleteView = async viewName => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   if (env.SELF_HOSTED) {
     const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
     const view = designDoc.views[viewName]
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/misc.spec.js b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/misc.spec.js
index ae5c0cca60..e5b87543d2 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/misc.spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/misc.spec.js
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ describe("run misc tests", () => {
         dataImport.schema[col] = { type: "string" }
       }
       await tableUtils.handleDataImport(
-        config.getAppId(),
         { userId: "test" },
         table,
         dataImport
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/utilities/TestFunctions.js b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/utilities/TestFunctions.js
index 9bd54f0d75..e9e15b7619 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/utilities/TestFunctions.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/utilities/TestFunctions.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 const rowController = require("../../../controllers/row")
 const appController = require("../../../controllers/application")
-const CouchDB = require("../../../../db")
 const { AppStatus } = require("../../../../db/utils")
 const { BUILTIN_ROLE_IDS } = require("@budibase/backend-core/roles")
 const { TENANT_ID } = require("../../../../tests/utilities/structures")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 function Request(appId, params) {
   this.appId = appId
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ exports.checkPermissionsEndpoint = async ({
     .expect(403)
 }
 
-exports.getDB = config => {
-  return new CouchDB(config.getAppId())
+exports.getDB = () => {
+  return getAppDB()
 }
 
 exports.testAutomation = async (config, automation) => {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/automations/automationUtils.js b/packages/server/src/automations/automationUtils.js
index aab341a1f8..9360840efd 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/automations/automationUtils.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/automations/automationUtils.js
@@ -53,13 +53,12 @@ exports.cleanInputValues = (inputs, schema) => {
  * the automation but is instead part of the Table/Table. This function will get the table schema and use it to instead
  * perform the cleanInputValues function on the input row.
  *
- * @param {string} appId The instance which the Table/Table is contained under.
  * @param {string} tableId The ID of the Table/Table which the schema is to be retrieved for.
  * @param {object} row The input row structure which requires clean-up after having been through template statements.
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} The cleaned up rows object, will should now have all the required primitive types.
  */
-exports.cleanUpRow = async (appId, tableId, row) => {
-  let table = await getTable(appId, tableId)
+exports.cleanUpRow = async (tableId, row) => {
+  let table = await getTable(tableId)
   return exports.cleanInputValues(row, { properties: table.schema })
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createRow.js b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createRow.js
index 1937121062..a16521d25d 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createRow.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/createRow.js
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ exports.run = async function ({ inputs, appId, emitter }) {
 
   try {
     inputs.row = await automationUtils.cleanUpRow(
-      appId,
       inputs.row.tableId,
       inputs.row
     )
diff --git a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/updateRow.js b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/updateRow.js
index a9569932fa..f66fcf9432 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/automations/steps/updateRow.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/automations/steps/updateRow.js
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ exports.run = async function ({ inputs, appId, emitter }) {
 
   try {
     if (tableId) {
-      inputs.row = await automationUtils.cleanUpRow(appId, tableId, inputs.row)
+      inputs.row = await automationUtils.cleanUpRow(tableId, inputs.row)
     }
     await rowController.patch(ctx)
     return {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/LinkController.js b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/LinkController.js
index b66e2debb5..86c32bf94f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/LinkController.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/LinkController.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../index")
 const { IncludeDocs, getLinkDocuments } = require("./linkUtils")
 const {
   generateLinkID,
@@ -7,6 +6,7 @@ const {
 } = require("../utils")
 const Sentry = require("@sentry/node")
 const { FieldTypes, RelationshipTypes } = require("../../constants")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 /**
  * Creates a new link document structure which can be put to the database. It is important to
@@ -52,9 +52,8 @@ function LinkDocument(
 }
 
 class LinkController {
-  constructor({ appId, tableId, row, table, oldTable }) {
-    this._appId = appId
-    this._db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  constructor({ tableId, row, table, oldTable }) {
+    this._db = getAppDB()
     this._tableId = tableId
     this._row = row
     this._table = table
@@ -99,7 +98,6 @@ class LinkController {
    */
   getRowLinkDocs(rowId) {
     return getLinkDocuments({
-      appId: this._appId,
       tableId: this._tableId,
       rowId,
       includeDocs: IncludeDocs.INCLUDE,
@@ -111,7 +109,6 @@ class LinkController {
    */
   getTableLinkDocs() {
     return getLinkDocuments({
-      appId: this._appId,
       tableId: this._tableId,
       includeDocs: IncludeDocs.INCLUDE,
     })
@@ -230,7 +227,6 @@ class LinkController {
           if (linkedSchema.relationshipType === RelationshipTypes.ONE_TO_MANY) {
             let links = (
               await getLinkDocuments({
-                appId: this._appId,
                 tableId: field.tableId,
                 rowId: linkId,
                 includeDocs: IncludeDocs.EXCLUDE,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/index.js b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/index.js
index 6835719e5f..f2872d808a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/index.js
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ const {
   getLinkedTable,
 } = require("./linkUtils")
 const { flatten } = require("lodash")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { FieldTypes } = require("../../constants")
 const { getMultiIDParams, USER_METDATA_PREFIX } = require("../../db/utils")
 const { partition } = require("lodash")
 const { getGlobalUsersFromMetadata } = require("../../utilities/global")
 const { processFormulas } = require("../../utilities/rowProcessor/utils")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 /**
  * This functionality makes sure that when rows with links are created, updated or deleted they are processed
@@ -48,14 +48,13 @@ function clearRelationshipFields(table, rows) {
   return rows
 }
 
-async function getLinksForRows(appId, rows) {
+async function getLinksForRows(rows) {
   const tableIds = [...new Set(rows.map(el => el.tableId))]
   // start by getting all the link values for performance reasons
   const responses = flatten(
     await Promise.all(
       tableIds.map(tableId =>
         getLinkDocuments({
-          appId,
           tableId: tableId,
           includeDocs: IncludeDocs.EXCLUDE,
         })
@@ -72,9 +71,9 @@ async function getLinksForRows(appId, rows) {
   )
 }
 
-async function getFullLinkedDocs(ctx, appId, links) {
+async function getFullLinkedDocs(links) {
   // create DBs
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const linkedRowIds = links.map(link => link.id)
   const uniqueRowIds = [...new Set(linkedRowIds)]
   let dbRows = (await db.allDocs(getMultiIDParams(uniqueRowIds))).rows.map(
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ async function getFullLinkedDocs(ctx, appId, links) {
   let [users, other] = partition(linked, linkRow =>
     linkRow._id.startsWith(USER_METDATA_PREFIX)
   )
-  users = await getGlobalUsersFromMetadata(appId, users)
+  users = await getGlobalUsersFromMetadata(users)
   return [...other, ...users]
 }
 
@@ -96,7 +95,6 @@ async function getFullLinkedDocs(ctx, appId, links) {
  * Update link documents for a row or table - this is to be called by the API controller when a change is occurring.
  * @param {string} args.eventType states what type of change which is occurring, means this can be expanded upon in the
  * future quite easily (all updates go through one function).
- * @param {string} args.appId The ID of the instance in which the change is occurring.
  * @param {string} args.tableId The ID of the of the table which is being changed.
  * @param {object|null} args.row The row which is changing, e.g. created, updated or deleted.
  * @param {object|null} args.table If the table has already been retrieved this can be used to reduce database gets.
@@ -105,11 +103,8 @@ async function getFullLinkedDocs(ctx, appId, links) {
  * row operations and the table for table operations.
  */
 exports.updateLinks = async function (args) {
-  const { eventType, appId, row, tableId, table, oldTable } = args
+  const { eventType, row, tableId, table, oldTable } = args
   const baseReturnObj = row == null ? table : row
-  if (appId == null) {
-    throw "Cannot operate without an instance ID."
-  }
   // make sure table ID is set
   if (tableId == null && table != null) {
     args.tableId = table._id
@@ -146,27 +141,23 @@ exports.updateLinks = async function (args) {
 /**
  * Given a table and a list of rows this will retrieve all of the attached docs and enrich them into the row.
  * This is required for formula fields, this may only be utilised internally (for now).
- * @param {object} ctx The request which is looking for rows.
  * @param {object} table The table from which the rows originated.
  * @param {array<object>} rows The rows which are to be enriched.
  * @return {Promise<*>} returns the rows with all of the enriched relationships on it.
  */
-exports.attachFullLinkedDocs = async (ctx, table, rows) => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
+exports.attachFullLinkedDocs = async (table, rows) => {
   const linkedTableIds = getLinkedTableIDs(table)
   if (linkedTableIds.length === 0) {
     return rows
   }
-  // create DBs
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
   // get all the links
-  const links = (await getLinksForRows(appId, rows)).filter(link =>
+  const links = (await getLinksForRows(rows)).filter(link =>
     rows.some(row => row._id === link.thisId)
   )
   // clear any existing links that could be dupe'd
   rows = clearRelationshipFields(table, rows)
   // now get the docs and combine into the rows
-  let linked = await getFullLinkedDocs(ctx, appId, links)
+  let linked = await getFullLinkedDocs(links)
   const linkedTables = []
   for (let row of rows) {
     for (let link of links.filter(link => link.thisId === row._id)) {
@@ -177,11 +168,7 @@ exports.attachFullLinkedDocs = async (ctx, table, rows) => {
       if (linkedRow) {
         const linkedTableId =
           linkedRow.tableId || getRelatedTableForField(table, link.fieldName)
-        const linkedTable = await getLinkedTable(
-          db,
-          linkedTableId,
-          linkedTables
-        )
+        const linkedTable = await getLinkedTable(linkedTableId, linkedTables)
         if (linkedTable) {
           row[link.fieldName].push(processFormulas(linkedTable, linkedRow))
         }
@@ -193,18 +180,16 @@ exports.attachFullLinkedDocs = async (ctx, table, rows) => {
 
 /**
  * This function will take the given enriched rows and squash the links to only contain the primary display field.
- * @param {string} appId The app in which the tables/rows/links exist.
  * @param {object} table The table from which the rows originated.
  * @param {array<object>} enriched The pre-enriched rows (full docs) which are to be squashed.
  * @returns {Promise<Array>} The rows after having their links squashed to only contain the ID and primary display.
  */
-exports.squashLinksToPrimaryDisplay = async (appId, table, enriched) => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.squashLinksToPrimaryDisplay = async (table, enriched) => {
   // will populate this as we find them
   const linkedTables = [table]
   for (let row of enriched) {
     // this only fetches the table if its not already in array
-    const rowTable = await getLinkedTable(db, row.tableId, linkedTables)
+    const rowTable = await getLinkedTable(row.tableId, linkedTables)
     for (let [column, schema] of Object.entries(rowTable.schema)) {
       if (schema.type !== FieldTypes.LINK || !Array.isArray(row[column])) {
         continue
@@ -212,7 +197,7 @@ exports.squashLinksToPrimaryDisplay = async (appId, table, enriched) => {
       const newLinks = []
       for (let link of row[column]) {
         const linkTblId = link.tableId || getRelatedTableForField(table, column)
-        const linkedTable = await getLinkedTable(db, linkTblId, linkedTables)
+        const linkedTable = await getLinkedTable(linkTblId, linkedTables)
         const obj = { _id: link._id }
         if (link[linkedTable.primaryDisplay]) {
           obj.primaryDisplay = link[linkedTable.primaryDisplay]
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/linkUtils.js b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/linkUtils.js
index 12e72af78d..5af4aa919a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/linkUtils.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/linkedRows/linkUtils.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../index")
 const Sentry = require("@sentry/node")
 const { ViewNames, getQueryIndex } = require("../utils")
 const { FieldTypes } = require("../../constants")
 const { createLinkView } = require("../views/staticViews")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 /**
  * Only needed so that boolean parameters are being used for includeDocs
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ exports.createLinkView = createLinkView
 
 /**
  * Gets the linking documents, not the linked documents themselves.
- * @param {string} args.appId The instance in which we are searching for linked rows.
  * @param {string} args.tableId The table which we are searching for linked rows against.
  * @param {string|null} args.fieldName The name of column/field which is being altered, only looking for
  * linking documents that are related to it. If this is not specified then the table level will be assumed.
@@ -30,8 +29,8 @@ exports.createLinkView = createLinkView
  * (if any).
  */
 exports.getLinkDocuments = async function (args) {
-  const { appId, tableId, rowId, includeDocs } = args
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+  const { tableId, rowId, includeDocs } = args
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let params
   if (rowId != null) {
     params = { key: [tableId, rowId] }
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ exports.getLinkDocuments = async function (args) {
   } catch (err) {
     // check if the view doesn't exist, it should for all new instances
     if (err != null && err.name === "not_found") {
-      await exports.createLinkView(appId)
+      await exports.createLinkView()
       return exports.getLinkDocuments(arguments[0])
     } else {
       /* istanbul ignore next */
@@ -89,7 +88,8 @@ exports.getLinkedTableIDs = table => {
     .map(column => column.tableId)
 }
 
-exports.getLinkedTable = async (db, id, tables) => {
+exports.getLinkedTable = async (id, tables) => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   let linkedTable = tables.find(table => table._id === id)
   if (linkedTable) {
     return linkedTable
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkController.spec.js b/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkController.spec.js
index d45bd99ea2..180cc2b3a0 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkController.spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkController.spec.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ describe("test the link controller", () => {
 
   function createLinkController(table, row = null, oldTable = null) {
     const linkConfig = {
-      appId: config.getAppId(),
       tableId: table._id,
       table,
     }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkTests.spec.js b/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkTests.spec.js
index 8dad7be049..9a309df70a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkTests.spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/tests/linkTests.spec.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 const TestConfig = require("../../tests/utilities/TestConfiguration")
-const { basicTable, basicLinkedRow } = require("../../tests/utilities/structures")
+const { basicTable } = require("../../tests/utilities/structures")
 const linkUtils = require("../linkedRows/linkUtils")
-const links = require("../linkedRows")
 const CouchDB = require("../index")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 describe("test link functionality", () => {
   const config = new TestConfig(false)
@@ -11,18 +11,18 @@ describe("test link functionality", () => {
     let db, table
     beforeEach(async () => {
       await config.init()
-      db = new CouchDB(config.getAppId())
+      db = getAppDB()
       table = await config.createTable()
     })
 
     it("should be able to retrieve a linked table from a list", async () => {
-      const retrieved = await linkUtils.getLinkedTable(db, table._id, [table])
+      const retrieved = await linkUtils.getLinkedTable(table._id, [table])
       expect(retrieved._id).toBe(table._id)
     })
 
     it("should be able to retrieve a table from DB and update list", async () => {
       const tables = []
-      const retrieved = await linkUtils.getLinkedTable(db, table._id, tables)
+      const retrieved = await linkUtils.getLinkedTable(table._id, tables)
       expect(retrieved._id).toBe(table._id)
       expect(tables[0]).toBeDefined()
     })
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ describe("test link functionality", () => {
       const db = new CouchDB("test")
       await db.put({ _id: "_design/database", views: {} })
       const output = await linkUtils.getLinkDocuments({
-        appId: "test",
         tableId: "test",
         rowId: "test",
         includeDocs: false,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/db/views/staticViews.js b/packages/server/src/db/views/staticViews.js
index 8e7b101ef5..50b7c305d3 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/db/views/staticViews.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/db/views/staticViews.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../index")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 const {
   DocumentTypes,
   SEPARATOR,
@@ -21,12 +21,11 @@ const SCREEN_PREFIX = DocumentTypes.SCREEN + SEPARATOR
 /**
  * Creates the link view for the instance, this will overwrite the existing one, but this should only
  * be called if it is found that the view does not exist.
- * @param {string} appId The instance to which the view should be added.
  * @returns {Promise<void>} The view now exists, please note that the next view of this query will actually build it,
  * so it may be slow.
  */
-exports.createLinkView = async appId => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.createLinkView = async () => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
   const view = {
     map: function (doc) {
@@ -57,8 +56,8 @@ exports.createLinkView = async appId => {
   await db.put(designDoc)
 }
 
-exports.createRoutingView = async appId => {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+exports.createRoutingView = async () => {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
   const view = {
     // if using variables in a map function need to inject them before use
@@ -78,8 +77,8 @@ exports.createRoutingView = async appId => {
   await db.put(designDoc)
 }
 
-async function searchIndex(appId, indexName, fnString) {
-  const db = new CouchDB(appId)
+async function searchIndex(indexName, fnString) {
+  const db = getAppDB()
   const designDoc = await db.get("_design/database")
   designDoc.indexes = {
     [indexName]: {
@@ -90,9 +89,8 @@ async function searchIndex(appId, indexName, fnString) {
   await db.put(designDoc)
 }
 
-exports.createAllSearchIndex = async appId => {
+exports.createAllSearchIndex = async () => {
   await searchIndex(
-    appId,
     SearchIndexes.ROWS,
     function (doc) {
       function idx(input, prev) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/integrations/utils.ts b/packages/server/src/integrations/utils.ts
index b9e643e26a..398f7fe56a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/integrations/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/integrations/utils.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ export function buildExternalTableId(datasourceId: string, tableName: string) {
   return `${datasourceId}${DOUBLE_SEPARATOR}${tableName}`
 }
 
-export function breakExternalTableId(tableId: string) {
+export function breakExternalTableId(tableId: string | undefined) {
+  if (!tableId) {
+    return {}
+  }
   const parts = tableId.split(DOUBLE_SEPARATOR)
   let tableName = parts.pop()
   // if they need joined
diff --git a/packages/server/src/middleware/authorized.js b/packages/server/src/middleware/authorized.js
index b463895a80..e3414192af 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/middleware/authorized.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/middleware/authorized.js
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ module.exports =
 
     // need to check this first, in-case public access, don't check authed until last
     const roleId = ctx.roleId || BUILTIN_ROLE_IDS.PUBLIC
-    const hierarchy = await getUserRoleHierarchy(ctx.appId, roleId, {
+    const hierarchy = await getUserRoleHierarchy(roleId, {
       idOnly: false,
     })
     const permError = "User does not have permission"
     let possibleRoleIds = []
     if (hasResource(ctx)) {
-      possibleRoleIds = await getRequiredResourceRole(ctx.appId, permLevel, ctx)
+      possibleRoleIds = await getRequiredResourceRole(permLevel, ctx)
     }
     // check if we found a role, if not fallback to base permissions
     if (possibleRoleIds.length > 0) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/middleware/currentapp.js b/packages/server/src/middleware/currentapp.js
index 69f80c895b..43f5ed9d46 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/middleware/currentapp.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/middleware/currentapp.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ const { generateUserMetadataID, isDevAppID } = require("../db/utils")
 const { dbExists } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
 const { isUserInAppTenant } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const { getCachedSelf } = require("../utilities/global")
-const CouchDB = require("../db")
 const env = require("../environment")
 const { isWebhookEndpoint } = require("./utils")
 
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ module.exports = async (ctx, next) => {
   // check the app exists referenced in cookie
   if (appCookie) {
     const appId = appCookie.appId
-    const exists = await dbExists(CouchDB, appId)
+    const exists = await dbExists(appId)
     if (!exists) {
       clearCookie(ctx, Cookies.CurrentApp)
       return next()
diff --git a/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncApps.js b/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncApps.js
index ee106129e6..e373c397ac 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncApps.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncApps.js
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 const { getGlobalDB, getTenantId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const { getAllApps } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { getUsageQuotaDoc } = require("../../utilities/usageQuota")
 
 exports.run = async () => {
   const db = getGlobalDB()
   // get app count
-  const devApps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { dev: true })
+  const devApps = await getAllApps({ dev: true })
   const appCount = devApps ? devApps.length : 0
 
   // sync app count
diff --git a/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncRows.js b/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncRows.js
index 7990f405de..5bdda08d8e 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncRows.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/migrations/usageQuotas/syncRows.js
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 const { getGlobalDB, getTenantId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const { getAllApps } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const { getUsageQuotaDoc } = require("../../utilities/usageQuota")
 const { getUniqueRows } = require("../../utilities/usageQuota/rows")
 
 exports.run = async () => {
   const db = getGlobalDB()
   // get all rows in all apps
-  const allApps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { all: true })
+  const allApps = await getAllApps({ all: true })
   const appIds = allApps ? allApps.map(app => app.appId) : []
   const rows = await getUniqueRows(appIds)
   const rowCount = rows ? rows.length : 0
diff --git a/packages/server/src/tests/utilities/TestConfiguration.js b/packages/server/src/tests/utilities/TestConfiguration.js
index 7aefe4fb78..d10ccdd230 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/tests/utilities/TestConfiguration.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/tests/utilities/TestConfiguration.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const { createASession } = require("@budibase/backend-core/sessions")
 const { user: userCache } = require("@budibase/backend-core/cache")
 const CouchDB = require("../../db")
 const newid = require("../../db/newid")
+const context = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 core.init(CouchDB)
 
 const GLOBAL_USER_ID = "us_uuid1"
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ class TestConfiguration {
   }
 
   async _req(config, params, controlFunc) {
+    context.updateAppId(this.appId)
     const request = {}
     // fake cookies, we don't need them
     request.cookies = { set: () => {}, get: () => {} }
@@ -165,6 +167,7 @@ class TestConfiguration {
     // create dev app
     this.app = await this._req({ name: appName }, null, controllers.app.create)
     this.appId = this.app.appId
+    context.updateAppId(this.appId)
 
     // create production app
     this.prodApp = await this.deploy()
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/fileSystem/index.js b/packages/server/src/utilities/fileSystem/index.js
index b8ddb1a356..7a9c2f350c 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/fileSystem/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/fileSystem/index.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const {
   LINK_USER_METADATA_PREFIX,
 } = require("../../db/utils")
 const MemoryStream = require("memorystream")
+const { getAppId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const TOP_LEVEL_PATH = join(__dirname, "..", "..", "..")
 const NODE_MODULES_PATH = join(TOP_LEVEL_PATH, "node_modules")
@@ -251,7 +252,8 @@ exports.downloadTemplate = async (type, name) => {
 /**
  * Retrieves component libraries from object store (or tmp symlink if in local)
  */
-exports.getComponentLibraryManifest = async (appId, library) => {
+exports.getComponentLibraryManifest = async library => {
+  const appId = getAppId()
   const filename = "manifest.json"
   /* istanbul ignore next */
   // when testing in cypress and so on we need to get the package
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/global.js b/packages/server/src/utilities/global.js
index 7ef1c09405..959eb59932 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/global.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/global.js
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ const {
   isUserInAppTenant,
 } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const env = require("../environment")
+const { getAppId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
-exports.updateAppRole = (appId, user) => {
+exports.updateAppRole = (user, { appId } = {}) => {
+  appId = appId || getAppId()
   if (!user || !user.roles) {
     return user
   }
@@ -35,18 +37,18 @@ exports.updateAppRole = (appId, user) => {
   return user
 }
 
-function processUser(appId, user) {
+function processUser(user, { appId } = {}) {
   if (user) {
     delete user.password
   }
-  return exports.updateAppRole(appId, user)
+  return exports.updateAppRole(user, { appId })
 }
 
 exports.getCachedSelf = async (ctx, appId) => {
   // this has to be tenant aware, can't depend on the context to find it out
   // running some middlewares before the tenancy causes context to break
   const user = await userCache.getUser(ctx.user._id)
-  return processUser(appId, user)
+  return processUser(user, appId)
 }
 
 exports.getRawGlobalUser = async userId => {
@@ -54,12 +56,13 @@ exports.getRawGlobalUser = async userId => {
   return db.get(getGlobalIDFromUserMetadataID(userId))
 }
 
-exports.getGlobalUser = async (appId, userId) => {
+exports.getGlobalUser = async userId => {
   let user = await exports.getRawGlobalUser(userId)
-  return processUser(appId, user)
+  return processUser(user)
 }
 
-exports.getGlobalUsers = async (appId = null, users = null) => {
+exports.getGlobalUsers = async (users = null) => {
+  const appId = getAppId()
   const db = getGlobalDB()
   let globalUsers
   if (users) {
@@ -86,11 +89,11 @@ exports.getGlobalUsers = async (appId = null, users = null) => {
   if (!appId) {
     return globalUsers
   }
-  return globalUsers.map(user => exports.updateAppRole(appId, user))
+  return globalUsers.map(user => exports.updateAppRole(user))
 }
 
-exports.getGlobalUsersFromMetadata = async (appId, users) => {
-  const globalUsers = await exports.getGlobalUsers(appId, users)
+exports.getGlobalUsersFromMetadata = async users => {
+  const globalUsers = await exports.getGlobalUsers(users)
   return users.map(user => {
     const globalUser = globalUsers.find(
       globalUser => globalUser && user._id.includes(globalUser._id)
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.js b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.js
index 4f5d72c179..55c7494928 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/index.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const {
   getDeployedAppID,
   dbExists,
 } = require("@budibase/backend-core/db")
-const CouchDB = require("../../db")
+const { getAppId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 const BASE_AUTO_ID = 1
 
@@ -263,14 +263,13 @@ exports.outputProcessing = async (
   rows,
   opts = { squash: true }
 ) => {
-  const appId = ctx.appId
   let wasArray = true
   if (!(rows instanceof Array)) {
     rows = [rows]
     wasArray = false
   }
   // attach any linked row information
-  let enriched = await linkRows.attachFullLinkedDocs(ctx, table, rows)
+  let enriched = await linkRows.attachFullLinkedDocs(table, rows)
 
   // process formulas
   enriched = processFormulas(table, enriched)
@@ -289,29 +288,25 @@ exports.outputProcessing = async (
     }
   }
   if (opts.squash) {
-    enriched = await linkRows.squashLinksToPrimaryDisplay(
-      appId,
-      table,
-      enriched
-    )
+    enriched = await linkRows.squashLinksToPrimaryDisplay(table, enriched)
   }
   return wasArray ? enriched : enriched[0]
 }
 
 /**
  * Clean up any attachments that were attached to a row.
- * @param {string} appId The ID of the app from which a row is being deleted.
  * @param {object} table The table from which a row is being removed.
  * @param {any} row optional - the row being removed.
  * @param {any} rows optional - if multiple rows being deleted can do this in bulk.
  * @param {any} oldRow optional - if updating a row this will determine the difference.
  * @return {Promise<void>} When all attachments have been removed this will return.
  */
-exports.cleanupAttachments = async (appId, table, { row, rows, oldRow }) => {
+exports.cleanupAttachments = async (table, { row, rows, oldRow }) => {
+  const appId = getAppId()
   if (!isProdAppID(appId)) {
     const prodAppId = getDeployedAppID(appId)
     // if prod exists, then don't allow deleting
-    const exists = await dbExists(CouchDB, prodAppId)
+    const exists = await dbExists(prodAppId)
     if (exists) {
       return
     }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/users.js b/packages/server/src/utilities/users.js
index 6144397bf1..b3601986d8 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/users.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/users.js
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-const CouchDB = require("../db")
 const { InternalTables } = require("../db/utils")
 const { getGlobalUser } = require("../utilities/global")
+const { getAppDB } = require("@budibase/backend-core/context")
 
 exports.getFullUser = async (ctx, userId) => {
-  const global = await getGlobalUser(ctx.appId, userId)
+  const global = await getGlobalUser(userId)
   let metadata
   try {
     // this will throw an error if the db doesn't exist, or there is no appId
-    const db = new CouchDB(ctx.appId)
+    const db = getAppDB()
     metadata = await db.get(userId)
   } catch (err) {
     // it is fine if there is no user metadata, just remove global db info
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/workerRequests.js b/packages/server/src/utilities/workerRequests.js
index 5e46f1678f..a7fa92b295 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/workerRequests.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/workerRequests.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ exports.getGlobalSelf = async (ctx, appId = null) => {
   }
   let json = await response.json()
   if (appId) {
-    json = updateAppRole(appId, json)
+    json = updateAppRole(json)
   }
   return json
 }
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/configs.js b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/configs.js
index fc0aa868a3..604e7d0e93 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/configs.js
+++ b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/configs.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ const {
   upload,
   ObjectStoreBuckets,
 } = require("@budibase/backend-core/objectStore")
-const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 const { getGlobalDB, getTenantId } = require("@budibase/backend-core/tenancy")
 const env = require("../../../environment")
 const { googleCallbackUrl, oidcCallbackUrl } = require("./auth")
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ exports.configChecklist = async function (ctx) {
     // TODO: Watch get started video
 
     // Apps exist
-    const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { idsOnly: true })
+    const apps = await getAllApps({ idsOnly: true })
 
     // They have set up SMTP
     const smtpConfig = await getScopedFullConfig(db, {
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/roles.js b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/roles.js
index 3c977a6290..ee55256f35 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/roles.js
+++ b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/roles.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const CouchDB = require("../../../db")
 exports.fetch = async ctx => {
   const tenantId = ctx.user.tenantId
   // always use the dev apps as they'll be most up to date (true)
-  const apps = await getAllApps(CouchDB, { tenantId, all: true })
+  const apps = await getAllApps({ tenantId, all: true })
   const promises = []
   for (let app of apps) {
     // use dev app IDs