stackstash

Apache Kafka vs SQLite

Apache Kafka and SQLite are free.

Apache Kafka logo: A log that services publish events to, and other services read later.
Apache Kafka logo: A log that services publish events to, and other services read later.

Apache Kafka

Free

A log that services publish events to, and other services read later.

Try it

Pros of Apache Kafka

  • Producers do not wait on every downstream service

  • You can replay events after a bug

  • It holds up once you actually have a stream of events

Cons of Apache Kafka

  • Running a cluster is a lot for one app

  • A database is the simpler choice until you need a stream

SQLite logo: A SQL database stored in one file, with no server to run.
SQLite logo: A SQL database stored in one file, with no server to run.

SQLite

Free

A SQL database stored in one file, with no server to run.

Try it

Pros of SQLite

  • Nothing to install beyond the library

  • Easy to copy, back up, or reset in development

  • Drizzle can use it the same way as Postgres

Cons of SQLite

  • One writer at a time is the comfortable limit

  • You outgrow it once you need hosted auth and storage