SQLite is a small-sized database that operates locally within an application. The latest version, 3.47.0, addresses numerous minor bugs while introducing a crucial feature called sqlite3_rsync. This command utilizes rsync, a specialized version, to understand the database transaction, enabling seamless synchronization of databases to backup machines.
Rsync command compares data hashes block by block and avoids sending data again if it already exists at the destination, making syncing large files with minimal changes (such as databases storing historical data with minor daily modifications) much more efficient. The data transmission rate drastically reduces, utilizing only 0.5% of the full data if there are no significant changes.
While sqlite3_rsync is a program with unique features distinct from the actual rsync, its specialty lies in understanding SQLite’s Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) files. This capability allows data synchronization without risking any database corruption on either end, enabling continuous querying of the destination side during synchronization. This approach benefits services focusing on data reads, like distributing databases limitlessly, such as in web blogs.
Previously, external projects attempted similar synchronization systems, like Litestream. However, the main project has now developed a direct support tool, albeit in an experimental phase initially.
TLDR: SQLite version 3.47.0 introduces sqlite3_rsync, a feature that optimizes database synchronization by understanding transactions and utilizing rsync for efficient data transmission. It surpasses previous attempts like Litestream, offering direct support for backup synchronization in an experimental phase.
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