Unified Database
Alopex DB
1 File, 5 Modes, Infinite Scale
Same data file scales seamlessly from embedded → server → cluster. No data conversion or migration pain when scaling up—a rare capability only ultra-versatile products like Redis can offer. Raft-based KVS as core with SQL, vector search, and graph ETL in one engine.
Same data file from embedded to cluster. Raft-based KVS + SQL + Vector + Graph ETL in one engine.
- Deployment Modes
- 5
- Data Models
- SQL+Vector+Graph
Key points
- Same data file across all 5 modes, no migration required
- Raft-based KVS with SQL, Vector, and Graph ETL integrated
- Zero code changes to scale, 4 systems consolidated into 1
Challenge
The pain of ever-growing DB products for different needs and scales
Application development requires various data models and scale forms depending on use cases and project size—embedded DBs like SQLite, vector search engines, RDBs, database clusters, and more.
- Separate products, separate connection methods, separate development
- Separate setup and infrastructure management for each product
- Architecture redesign and data conversion when scaling—an excruciating ordeal
Alopex DB uses the same data file to scale seamlessly from embedded to cluster. Unlike typical DB products that require painful data conversion and migration when switching, Alopex DB eliminates this entirely. Raft-based KVS as core with SQL, vector search, and graph ETL in one engine.
The v0.7.x series is available now. Bug reports and feature requests are welcome via GitHub Issues.
For observability we are building three sister products. Alopex Skulk is a time-series engine small enough to embed — 3.7 MB of pure Rust on Arrow + Parquet, released as v0.3.0. Alopex Trail is a schemaless log and event store, published as an open design. Alopex OTel packages both, dashboards included, into a single product.
For the enterprise, commercial middleware built on the AlopexDB OSS foundation — “Alopex Enterprise” — is currently in design: a Security Suite (storage & logical encryption, JWT/OIDC/RBAC), a Unified Query Model (SQL/AQL/PromQL with Enterprise Search), Observe for SRE (SLO engine), and infrastructure packages (distributed config store, service discovery DNS). Get in touch if you are interested.
Raft-based KVS + SQL + Vector + Graph ETL = One Engine
Alopex DB uses the same data file from embedded → server → cluster with seamless scale-up. Enables 'scale without data conversion'—a capability only ultra-versatile products like Redis offer. Raft-based KVS as core with SQL, vector search, and graph ETL in one engine.
- Same data file across all 5 deployment modes
- No data conversion or migration when scaling
- Raft consensus for strongly consistent distributed KVS
- Data conversion
- None
- Code changes to scale
- 0
Capabilities
Five Modes, One Engine
Same data file across all modes. Switch topologies based on operational needs without data conversion.
WASM & Embedded
Browser apps, mobile, edge devices, local RAG
- WASM Viewer: Read-only in-browser, IndexedDB/OPFS
- Embedded: SQLite-like single-file, full ACID
- Zero-config, same SQL interface everywhere
Single-Node & Replicated
Microservices, dev/test, read-heavy workloads
- Single-Node: Standalone server, Postgres wire protocol*
- Replicated: Leader + read replicas, async replication
- Chirps messaging layer with SWIM + QUIC
Distributed Mode
High-availability, global production workloads
- Shared-nothing cluster with Range Sharding
- Raft consensus for strong consistency
- Automatic shard splitting and rebalancing
Features
Key Features
Features designed for AI applications with hybrid SQL + vector + graph queries.
Native Vector Search
VECTOR(N) data type with HNSW, IVF, and Flat indexes. Hybrid SQL + vector queries in single statement.
Graph-Ready Storage
Optimized for Knowledge Graphs with nodes, edges, and embeddings. Graph traversal with SQL syntax.
Chirps Cluster Messaging
SWIM protocol over QUIC transport. 3-layer architecture: Gossip, Raft, and Application messaging.
Lake-Link Architecture
Zero-ETL Parquet import. Cold/hot data tiering with instant re-hydration.
Pure Rust Engine
Custom LSM-Tree storage, MVCC transactions, memory-safe. WebAssembly ready.
Tech Stack
Technology Stack
A next-generation database engine built from the ground up in Rust.
Storage & Transactions
LSM-Tree, MVCC, Raft Consensus
Vector & Graph
HNSW, IVF, Flat indexes
Cluster Messaging
Chirps: SWIM + QUIC
Sponsor Access
Full access to pre-public Alopex development through sponsorship
At eligible tiers, Alopex DB sponsors support ongoing OSS development while accessing pre-public design material, internal notes, experiments, and private Enterprise repositories.
Early Access
$12 / monthA sponsor benefit for seeing design and experiments before general release.
- Full access to docs-internal design drafts, internal notes, and technical research
- Early visibility into AlopexDB, JV Language, GraphRAG, and other experiments and prototypes
- Ongoing visibility into Alopex Enterprise design and validation
Enterprise Access
$99 / monthFor teams that want a deeper view of Enterprise security and deployment work.
- Full access to private Enterprise repositories and related documentation
- Review pre-release work for the Security Suite, Unified Query Model, Observe, and more
- Early access to enterprise extensions and security architecture
Access is granted through GitHub to eligible, active Sponsor tiers. Benefits evolve with development progress.
Status
Development Status
Alopex DB v0.7.x is published on crates.io and PyPI, with CLI binaries on every release. For time-series workloads, its sister product Alopex Skulk shares the same Alopex Core foundation.
Public Resources
The latest documents, code, and community links in one place.
Get Involved
Join the Development
Alopex DB is being developed as open source. Eligible sponsor tiers also provide access to private design materials, internal notes, and Enterprise repositories.