SliQ

SliQ

SliQ is an open-source database management system designed for embedded and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It is lightweight, customizable, and optimized for resource-constrained devices.
opensource lightweight iot embedded database

SliQ: Open-Source DBMS

Lightweight, customizable, and optimized database management system for embedded & IoT applications

What is SliQ?

SliQ is an open-source, lightweight SQL database management system designed specifically for embedded and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It is developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and the University of Surrey.

Some key features of SliQ include:

  • Small footprint - Under 400kB in size, making it suitable for resource-constrained devices
  • ANSI SQL support - Supports a subset of ANSI SQL for cross-compatibility
  • Customizable - Can be configured and extended for specific needs
  • Runs on various platforms - Supported on Linux, Windows, and POSIX compatible systems
  • Embedded deployment - Can be deeply embedded into application logic
  • Asynchronous processing - Uses non-blocking APIs for high concurrency
  • In-memory storage - Stores all data in RAM for speed
  • Written in C++ - For maximum performance and portability

SliQ is designed to provide full database functionality, including ACID-compliant transactions, on low-power microcontrollers and small systems. Its small code footprint makes it feasible to deploy on things like satellites, robots, and IoT sensors.

Overall, SliQ is ideal for anyone needing a capable yet very compact SQL database for industrial systems, smart devices, or edge computing applications.

SliQ Features

Features

  1. Lightweight and optimized for resource-constrained devices
  2. Open source with permissive license (MIT)
  3. Written in C with small memory footprint
  4. SQL support with transactions, indexing and JOINs
  5. Customizable through plugins and extensions
  6. Built-in replication and clustering support
  7. REST API for easy integration

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and efficient for IoT/embedded use cases

Open source allows customization and community support

Small resource requirements good for constrained devices

Standard SQL interface is familiar for developers

Built-in replication and clustering features

REST API enables integration with web/mobile apps

Cons

Lacks some advanced SQL features of full RDBMSs

Not as mature or feature-rich as larger DBs like MySQL

Limited ecosystem of plugins and extensions

Not ideal for large, complex databases

Setup and configuration may require technical expertise


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