SWC-DB
SWC-DB is a free, self-hosted Super Wide Column Database described as a key-value, wide-column NoSQL and time-series database.
What SWC-DB is
SWC-DB is a free, self-hosted Super Wide Column Database described as a key-value, wide-column NoSQL and time-series database. Its maker says it is designed for very large data volumes and supports horizontal scaling. SQL is available, but joins are not. The project documents a utility for deploying, starting and stopping distributed clusters, and offers tar.xz and Debian packages as well as Arch Linux AUR packages.
The data model uses cell keys made from lists of fractions with timestamps, with numerous columns rather than tables or namespaces. Data can have automatic or user-defined versions, ordered ascending or descending, with a configurable maximum number retained. The maker describes ACID concepts for an individual data entry, but writes across multiple entries are not atomic as a group. Communications can use SSL; transaction security also depends on the configured filesystem and clients supporting a secure layer. The maker marks user-concept access controls as unsupported. SWC-DB is licensed under GPLv3, with commercial-purpose licensing inquiries invited for uses limited by the license.
Good
- Free, self-hosted deployment.
- Supports SQL and horizontal scaling.
- Documents a utility for distributed cluster management.
- Offers configurable data-version ordering and retention.
- Client libraries are listed for several languages.
Watch out
- SQL support does not include joins.
- Multi-entry writes are not atomic as a group.
- User-concept access controls are unsupported.
- Transaction security depends on filesystem and client support.
Who it suits
SWC-DB may suit teams seeking a self-hosted, horizontally scalable database with a wide-column and time-series model. Users should account for the lack of joins and unsupported user-concept access controls.
Verdict
SWC-DB offers a distinctive wide-column data model and tools for cluster deployment, but its transaction and access-control limits matter. Review its SQL and security constraints against the needs of the intended deployment.
Plans and prices
From SWC-DB's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SWC-DB | Free | GPLv3; commercial-purpose licensing inquiries for uses limited by GPLv3 |
The facts
Each one read from SWC-DB's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access control
- The maker's feature checklist marks user-concept access controls as unsupported.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Data model
- The documentation identifies SWC-DB as a key-value, wide-column, NoSQL and time-series database.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker documents a cluster utility with commands to deploy, start and stop a distributed SWC-DB cluster.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page offers tar.xz and Debian packages and describes Arch Linux AUR packages.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Filesystem options
- Build options list local, broker, Hadoop JVM, Hadoop and Ceph as built-in filesystem choices.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Keys and columns
- Its cell keys are lists of fractions with timestamps, and it has numerous columns without tables or namespaces.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker publishes SWC-DB under GPLv3 and invites inquiries about commercial-purpose licensing when activities are limited by GPLv3.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- SWC-DB describes itself as a high-performance, scalable Super Wide Column Database.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The maker says the system is designed for yottabytes of data and a quadrillion base of entries.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- SQL
- SWC-DB supports SQL, but the maker notes that it has no joins.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- The maker describes ACID concepts for a single data entry, while multi-entry writes are not atomic as a group.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2019checked 28 Sep 2026
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