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Features Overview

HeliosDB-Lite provides advanced database features typically found in enterprise systems, all in a lightweight embedded package.

Core Features

Database Branching

Create isolated database branches for development, testing, or experimentation without duplicating data. Similar to Git branches for your database.

Branching Guide

Time-Travel Queries

Query data as it existed at any point in time using AS OF TIMESTAMP syntax. Perfect for auditing, debugging, and historical analysis.

Time-Travel Guide

Materialized Views

Create pre-computed views with automatic or incremental refresh. CPU-aware scheduling prevents system overload.

Materialized Views Guide

Built-in HNSW vector indexing for similarity search, RAG applications, and AI/ML workloads. Supports product quantization for memory efficiency.

Vector Search Guide

Security Features

Row-Level Security (RLS)

Fine-grained access control at the row level. Essential for multi-tenant applications.

RLS Guide

Encryption at Rest

AES-256-GCM transparent data encryption with secure key management.

Encryption Guide

Multi-Tenancy

Built-in tenant isolation with quotas, plans, and CDC support.

Multi-Tenancy Guide

Performance Features

Self-Maintaining Filter Index (SMFI)

Automatic bloom filters and zone maps for storage-level filtering. Speculatively creates indexes based on query patterns.

SMFI Guide

Per-Column Storage & Compression

FSST (string) and ALP (numeric) compression with per-column configuration for optimal storage efficiency.

Per-Column Storage Guide

SQL Features

Triggers

PostgreSQL-compatible triggers for automating database operations in response to INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE events.

Triggers Guide

Procedural Language (PL)

Multi-dialect procedural language supporting PL/pgSQL, T-SQL, PL/SQL, and DB2 SQL PL for stored procedures and functions.

PL Guide

Primary Keys

Unique row identification with automatic indexing and NOT NULL constraints.

Primary Keys Guide

Foreign Keys

Referential integrity constraints with CASCADE, SET NULL, and DEFERRED enforcement modes.

Foreign Keys Guide

High Availability

HA Tier 1-3

Multi-tier high availability with warm standby (Tier 1), multi-primary replication (Tier 2), and sharding (Tier 3).

HA Guide

Feature Comparison

Feature HeliosDB-Lite SQLite PostgreSQL
Embedded Mode ✅ ✅ ❌
Server Mode ✅ ❌ ✅
Database Branching ✅ ❌ ❌
Time-Travel ✅ ❌ ❌
Vector Search ✅ ❌ Extension
Row-Level Security ✅ ❌ ✅
Materialized Views ✅ ❌ ✅
Triggers ✅ ✅ ✅
Procedural Language ✅ ❌ ✅
Primary Keys ✅ ✅ ✅
Foreign Keys ✅ ✅ ✅
Per-Column Compression ✅ ❌ ❌
HA (Multi-Tier) ✅ ❌ Extension
Transparent Write Routing (TWR) ✅ ❌ ❌

Feature Index

For developers looking for source code locations, see the Feature Index.