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Apache AsterixDB
What Apache AsterixDB is
Apache AsterixDB is a free, open-source Big Data Management System for ingesting, storing, indexing, querying, and analyzing data. Its Asterix Data Model extends JSON with concepts from object databases, while SQL++ and AQL provide declarative query languages for semistructured data. Storage is partitioned and LSM-based, with B+ tree, R-tree, and inverted keyword secondary indexes. External datasets can be queried without first loading them into AsterixDB; built-in adapters support HDFS and local filesystems. Data feeds can continuously ingest sources including Twitter, RSS, and sockets. The HTTP query API accepts SQL++ and can deliver results immediately, later, or asynchronously. AsterixDB is self-hosted, with installation options using NCService, Ansible, and Amazon Web Services. Its Hyracks parallel runtime has been scale-tested on up to 1000+ cores and 500+ disks. The project describes basic transactional concurrency and recovery capabilities, and identifies web data warehousing and social data storage and analysis as suitable uses. Its listed price is free.
Who it suits
AsterixDB may suit teams building web data warehouses or storing and analyzing social data. It is self-hosted and supports semistructured data, external datasets, and continuous feeds.
What it does well
- Free, open-source self-hosted system.
- Queries external datasets without loading all data first.
- Supports SQL++ and AQL for semistructured data.
- Continuous feeds include Twitter, RSS, and socket sources.
- Offers several secondary index types.
What to know first
- Deployment is self-hosted.
- Basic transactional concurrency and recovery capabilities are described.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apache AsterixDB | Open source Big Data Management System · self-managed cluster | Free |
As asterixdb.apache.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://asterixdb.apache.org/.
- Choose an installation route: NCService, Ansible, or Amazon Web Services.
- Deploy the self-hosted cluster.
- Use SQL++ or AQL to query semistructured data.
- Connect external datasets or configure data feeds as needed.
Verdict
AsterixDB brings ingestion, storage, indexing, and querying together for semistructured data. Its self-hosted deployment and stated transactional capabilities are important considerations.
Questions
How much does Apache AsterixDB cost?
The Apache AsterixDB plan is free. The pricing model is free, and the project is open source.
Is AsterixDB hosted or self-hosted?
It is self-hosted, with a self-managed cluster plan.
Which query languages does it support?
Its documentation describes SQL++ and AQL as declarative query languages for semistructured data.
Can AsterixDB query data without importing it first?
Yes. External datasets can be queried without loading all their data into AsterixDB. Built-in adapters include HDFS and local filesystems.
What installation options are available?
The documentation provides installation options using NCService, Ansible, and Amazon Web Services.
Where can users get help?
The project directs users to its users mailing list for questions and lists an IRC channel for contacting developers.
Facts from Apache AsterixDB's own pages
- Audience
- The documentation says AsterixDB is well suited to web data warehousing and social data storage and analysis. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- AWS requirements
- The AWS installation instructions list Linux and macOS as supported client operating systems and Linux for AWS instances. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Data model
- Its semistructured Asterix Data Model extends JSON with object database ideas. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The documentation provides installation options using NCService, Ansible, and Amazon Web Services. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- External data
- External datasets can be queried without loading all data into AsterixDB, with built-in adapters for HDFS and local filesystems. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2009 · asterixdb.apache.org, 28 Sept 2026
- HTTP API
- The HTTP query API accepts SQL++ statements and supports immediate, deferred, and asynchronous result delivery. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Apache AsterixDB is a scalable, open source Big Data Management System for ingesting, storing, indexing, querying, and analyzing data. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Query languages
- The documentation describes SQL++ and AQL as declarative query languages for semistructured data. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The project documentation says its Hyracks parallel runtime query engine has been scale-tested on up to 1000+ cores and 500+ disks. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Storage and indexes
- AsterixDB uses partitioned LSM-based native storage and supports B+ tree, R-tree, and inverted keyword secondary indexes. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Streaming ingestion
- Data feeds can continuously ingest external data, and built-in adapters include Twitter, RSS, and socket sources. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its users mailing list for AsterixDB questions and also lists an IRC channel where developers may be contacted. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- The documentation describes basic transactional concurrency and recovery capabilities akin to those of a NoSQL store. · asterixdb.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Where Apache AsterixDB stands on Freedom251
- Document Databases#3 of 28
- Database Software#38 of 74