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ActorDB

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What ActorDB is

ActorDB is an open-source distributed relational SQL database from Biokoda. It divides data into independent actors, or small chunks inspired by the actor model. SQLite handles SQL queries, while LMDB provides storage. Applications can connect through the MySQL protocol or Thrift, with the FAQ recommending Thrift; ActorDB also works with default MySQL drivers.

The database uses Raft for distributed consensus and write replication, and its maker describes it as strongly consistent. Transactions can span multiple actors and are described as ACID compliant. ActorDB can also operate as a sharded key-value store, with structured values that support multiple columns and foreign tables. The maker says it can scale horizontally across hundreds of nodes and petabytes when data is distributed across actors. If a server goes offline, a follower can take leadership for an actor, and writes can continue while a cluster majority remains online. The FAQ recommends clusters of 1, 3 or 5 nodes; a single node has no redundancy. Documentation presents file synchronization applications as a suitable use case. ActorDB is self-hosted and licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

Who it suits

ActorDB suits developers building distributed relational databases or structured key-value stores who want SQL access and self-hosted deployment. Its documentation identifies file synchronization applications as a suitable use case, and its cluster features suit workloads spread across multiple actors and nodes.

What it does well

  • Open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
  • Supports MySQL protocol and Thrift connections.
  • Transactions can span actors and are described as ACID compliant.
  • Raft provides distributed consensus and write replication.
  • Can serve as a sharded key-value store.
  • A follower can take leadership when a server goes offline.

What to know first

  • A single-node cluster has no redundancy.
  • Writes depend on a cluster majority remaining online.
  • Map/reduce is not available.
  • The latest stable release shown is version 0.10.29, dated 1 October 2019.

Limits

A single-node cluster has no redundancy, and writes can continue only while a cluster majority remains online. The FAQ says map/reduce is not available.

Getting started

  1. Visit https://www.actordb.com/.
  2. Choose a supported Windows, Mac OS X, CentOS or Ubuntu distribution.
  3. Deploy ActorDB as a self-hosted database.
  4. Connect through the MySQL protocol or Thrift; the FAQ recommends Thrift.
  5. For cluster sizing, follow the recommendation for 1, 3 or 5 nodes, keeping in mind that one node has no redundancy.

Verdict

Choose ActorDB if you need a self-hosted, open-source database that distributes data across actors and supports SQL, multi-actor transactions and cluster failover. Consider another database if map/reduce is required or a single-node setup must provide redundancy.

Questions

Is ActorDB free and open source?

Yes. ActorDB is open source and licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

Who makes ActorDB?

The product site identifies Biokoda as its maker.

How can applications connect to ActorDB?

Clients can connect through the MySQL protocol or Thrift. Its FAQ recommends Thrift, and it works with default MySQL drivers.

Can ActorDB scale across nodes?

The maker says it can scale horizontally across hundreds of nodes and petabytes when data is spread across actors.

What happens if a server goes offline?

A follower can become leader for an actor, and writes can continue while a cluster majority remains online.

Which platforms are supported?

The platforms listed include Windows, Mac OS X, CentOS and Ubuntu, as well as API access and self-hosted deployment.

Facts from ActorDB's own pages

Architecture
ActorDB uses the Raft distributed consensus algorithm and splits data into small independent chunks inspired by the actor model. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Availability
The maker says ActorDB has no single point of failure and that a follower can become an actor's leader when a server goes offline. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Cluster sizing
The FAQ recommends odd cluster sizes of 1, 3, or 5 nodes; a single-node cluster has no redundancy. · actordb.com, 4 Oct 2026
Connections
ActorDB accepts connections over the MySQL protocol and Thrift, and works with default MySQL drivers. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Consistency
The maker describes ActorDB as strongly consistent, rather than eventually consistent. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Database engine
The documentation says ActorDB uses SQLite for SQL queries and LMDB for storage. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Failover
If a server goes offline, a follower can become leader for an actor; writes succeed while a cluster majority remains online. · actordb.com, 4 Oct 2026
Interfaces
Clients can connect through the MySQL protocol or Thrift, and the FAQ recommends Thrift. · actordb.com, 4 Oct 2026
Key/value
ActorDB can also provide a sharded key/value store with structured values that may contain multiple columns and foreign tables. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
License
ActorDB is an open source project licensed under Mozilla Public License 2.0. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Maker
The product site identifies Biokoda as ActorDB's maker. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Notable limit
The documentation cautions against putting many gigabytes of data inside a single actor and recommends spreading data across actors. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Platforms
The downloads page lists distributions for Windows, Mac OS X, CentOS, and Ubuntu. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Product
ActorDB is a distributed relational SQL database. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Release
The downloads page identifies version 0.10.29, dated 1 October 2019, as the latest stable release. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Scaling
The maker says ActorDB can scale horizontally to hundreds of nodes and petabytes of data. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026
Suggested use case
The documentation presents file synchronization applications as a suitable use case. · actordb.com, 4 Oct 2026
Supported releases
The downloads page lists Windows, Mac OS X, CentOS, and Ubuntu distributions, with version 0.10.29 dated 1 October 2019 as the latest stable release shown. · actordb.com, 4 Oct 2026
Transactions
Transactions affect only the actors that participate in them, and the product supports ACID transactions across multiple actors. · actordb.com, 7 Oct 2026

Where ActorDB stands on Freedom251

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