# symisc/unqlite

An Embedded NoSQL, Transactional Database Engine

Repository: https://github.com/symisc/unqlite
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/unqlite
Homepage: https://unqlite.symisc.net
Language: C
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: database, embedded, key-value, storage, json, nosql-databases, c, transactional, nosql, database-library
Last push: 2026-05-01T16:49:20+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 73/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 80, release rhythm 49, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4408, "days_push": 124, "days_rel": 124, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 1}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2314, forks 182 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:36.724575+00:00)

## What it is
UnQLite is a self-contained, serverless, transactional NoSQL database engine implemented as an embeddable C library. It provides both a binary-safe key/value store and a JSON document store powered by the Jx9 embedded scripting language, storing an entire database in a single portable file.

## Use cases
- embed a lightweight NoSQL database in a C/C++ application
- store key/value records locally without running a database server
- persist JSON documents in a single portable file
- replace SQLite-style embedded storage with a document store
- build an in-memory database for temporary application data
- ship a zero-configuration database with a desktop or embedded application

## When to choose
- you need an embedded, serverless database with no external dependencies
- you want ACID transactions for local storage in C/C++
- you need a single cross-platform database file that is easy to distribute
- you want both key/value and JSON document storage in one small library
- you target restricted or embedded platforms with a C compiler

## When to avoid
- you need a client/server database accessed over a network
- you require SQL queries or a rich relational model
- you need heavy concurrent multi-process write access
- you depend on an actively maintained project with frequent updates
- you need bindings beyond C/C++ without writing your own wrapper

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: database, serialization
- domain: databases, developer-tools, files
- platform: cross-platform, c, cpp, embedded
- tags: nosql, key-value-store, document-store, embedded-database, serverless, acid, jx9, amalgamation

## Member repositories
- symisc/unqlite (main) score 73

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:36.724575+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:39:27.701998+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/symisc/unqlite (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:36.724575+00:00, sha 62787c5249fb)
  - homepage: https://unqlite.symisc.net (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:29.780016+00:00, sha e46380232bac)
  - site_page: https://unqlite.symisc.net/features.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:29.791052+00:00, sha 9e61a6effb03)
  - site_page: https://unqlite.symisc.net/index.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:29.789170+00:00, sha e46380232bac)
  - site_page: https://unqlite.symisc.net/c_api.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:29.792861+00:00, sha 98550ccb96f8)
  - site_page: https://unqlite.symisc.net/faq.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:29.794721+00:00, sha 84ded100040a)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.