libSQL

SQLite that learned to talk over the network. libSQL is Turso's fork of SQLite that adds server mode, replication, and open contributions — things SQLite's governance model doesn't allow. The result is an embeddable database that also works as a remote server via WebSockets and HTTP.

SQLite is the parent project — 4 billion deployments, bulletproof reliability, but no network access and no accepting outside contributions. Postgres is the production default for anything needing multi-user access. PlanetScale and Neon offer managed MySQL and Postgres respectively.

The JavaScript SDK hit 800K weekly downloads, proving there's real demand. For edge deployments, local-first apps, and per-tenant databases, libSQL is a legitimate production choice in 2026. Cloudflare D1 uses similar SQLite-at-the-edge concepts.

The catch: Turso is already working on a Rust rewrite (Limbo) intended to replace libSQL long-term. That means you might be building on a transitional technology. The server mode is production-ready, but "fork of SQLite" means maintaining compatibility with upstream changes forever. And for anything needing concurrent writes from multiple servers, Postgres is still the safer choice.