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SWC-DB
What it is
SWC-DB is a free, self-hosted database described as a high-performance, scalable Super Wide Column Database. Its documentation characterizes it as a key-value, wide-column NoSQL and time-series system, and the maker says it is designed for yottabytes of data and a quadrillion base of entries. It supports SQL, but queries do not have joins. The data model uses cell keys made from lists of fractions with timestamps, and numerous columns rather than tables or namespaces. Data can use automatic or user-defined versions, ordered ascending or descending, with a configurable maximum number to retain. The maker describes ACID concepts for a single data entry; a write spanning multiple entries is not atomic as a group. Communications can use SSL, but transaction security also depends on the configured filesystem and clients supporting a secure layer. The feature checklist marks user-concept access controls as unsupported. A cluster utility can deploy, start and stop distributed clusters. SWC-DB is published under GPLv3, with commercial-purpose licensing inquiries invited for uses limited by the license.
For and against
For
- Supports horizontal scaling and distributed clusters.
- SQL is available for queries.
- Data versions can be ordered and retained by configuration.
- Build options include local, Hadoop and Ceph filesystems.
Against
- SQL does not support joins.
- Multi-entry writes are not atomic as a group.
- User-concept access controls are unsupported.
- Transaction security depends partly on filesystem and client support.
The verdict
SWC-DB offers a specialized wide-column model with SQL and distributed deployment options. The lack of joins, non-atomic multi-entry writes and unsupported user-concept access controls are important constraints to assess.
Who it suits
SWC-DB may suit teams seeking a self-hosted, horizontally scalable wide-column or time-series database and able to work within its data model. It is also relevant to users comfortable with GPLv3 licensing and the stated transaction and access-control limits.
Plans and prices
SWC-DB
GPLv3; commercial-purpose licensing inquiries for uses limited by GPLv3
Read 4 Oct 2026 · swcdb.org
On the record
- Access control
- The maker's feature checklist marks user-concept access controls as unsupported.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Client languages
- The Thrift client documentation lists C++, Java, Python, Ruby and C-Glib libraries, plus generated clients for .NET Standard and Rust.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Data model
- The documentation identifies SWC-DB as a key-value, wide-column, NoSQL and time-series database.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker documents a cluster utility with commands to deploy, start and stop a distributed SWC-DB cluster.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page offers tar.xz and Debian packages and describes Arch Linux AUR packages.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Filesystem options
- Build options list local, broker, Hadoop JVM, Hadoop and Ceph as built-in filesystem choices.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Keys and columns
- Its cell keys are lists of fractions with timestamps, and it has numerous columns without tables or namespaces.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker publishes SWC-DB under GPLv3 and invites inquiries about commercial-purpose licensing when activities are limited by GPLv3.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- SWC-DB describes itself as a high-performance, scalable Super Wide Column Database.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The maker says the system is designed for yottabytes of data and a quadrillion base of entries.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The documentation says communications can use SSL, while transaction security also depends on the configured filesystem and clients supporting a secure layer.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- SQL
- SWC-DB supports SQL, but the maker notes that it has no joins.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users to a Google Group for discussions and help, GitHub issues for bugs or feature requests, and lists commercial support contact options.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- The maker describes ACID concepts for a single data entry, while multi-entry writes are not atomic as a group.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Versions
- The maker says data can use automatic or user-defined versions, with ascending or descending order and a configurable maximum to keep.swcdb.org · read 4 Oct 2026
