Loading page…
SQLite Development
An embedded SQL database that lives in a single file, ideal on-device and for local-first apps, and a poor fit for many concurrent writers over a network.
Start Your Project
What SQLite is
SQLite is a SQL database engine that runs inside your application process and stores everything in one file. There is no server to install or connect to, which makes it the most widely deployed database in the world, found in phones, browsers and countless apps.
It supports real SQL, transactions and indexes. The constraint is concurrency: it allows one writer at a time, with readers able to continue alongside in write-ahead logging mode, which is plenty for local use and limiting for a busy shared server.
Suitability
And when it is not. Choosing the wrong tool costs more than any implementation detail.
Good fit for
- Mobile and desktop apps that store data on the device, including offline-first behaviour
- Local-first software where data is created locally and synchronised later
- Tests, prototypes and tooling where a zero-setup database speeds things up
- Low-write, read-heavy sites and tools served from one machine
Consider alternatives for
- Multi-user systems with many simultaneous writers across a network
- Applications that must scale across several servers sharing one database
- Workloads needing fine-grained user permissions inside the database itself
In practice
01
On-device storage for mobile apps
Local data in Flutter, React Native and native apps, so features work without a connection and sync when one returns.
02
Offline-first data layers
A local SQLite store with a defined sync strategy to a server, including how conflicts are resolved.
03
Fast, disposable test databases
Quick local databases for tooling and tests, with the caveat that behaviour should still be verified against the production database.
Considerations
Practical notes from running this in production.
- 01
SQLite is a capability we take on per engagement, and mostly appears in our work as on-device storage in mobile apps. It is not our choice for shared server-side data, where PostgreSQL is.
- 02
Sync is the hard part of local-first apps. Decide conflict handling, ordering and what happens to edits made offline before writing any code.
- 03
Its type system is flexible by default, which can let inconsistent data in. Use strict tables and constraints where the data should be well-formed.
- 04
Tests that pass on SQLite can fail on PostgreSQL because behaviour and types differ. Run important tests against the real production database engine.
FAQ
Can SQLite be our production database?
For a single-machine, read-heavy application with modest writes, yes, and some teams run it that way successfully. For a multi-user system with concurrent writers, or one that needs to scale across servers, use PostgreSQL. We would choose from your write pattern and growth plans, not from habit.
SQLite or a server database for a mobile app?
Both, usually. SQLite stores data on the device for speed and offline use, while a server database such as PostgreSQL holds the shared source of truth. The work lies in the sync between them.
Do you build local-first apps?
We take on offline-first and local-first work per engagement, mainly in mobile apps. We do not publish client projects for it, and we will explain the sync trade-offs before you commit to the approach.
How long does a SQLite development project take?
It depends on scope. A focused first release is usually weeks rather than months, while larger platforms are delivered in phases. We give a written estimate after a short discovery conversation and agree milestones before work starts.
How is SQLite development work priced?
We work either to a fixed scope with agreed milestones or on a time-and-materials basis, whichever suits how well the requirements are known. You receive the estimate and its assumptions in writing before committing.
By industry
Where we apply SQLite. Tiles marked "Guide" open a dedicated write-up; the rest open the industry page.
Related
- ServicesMobile App Development
- ServicesDatabase Development
- ServicesMVP Development
- ServicesCustom Software Development
- SolutionsStartup Development
- SolutionsProduct Engineering
- IndustriesAgriculture
- IndustriesLogistics
- IndustriesHealthcare
TechnologiesFlutter
TechnologiesReact Native
TechnologiesSwift
TechnologiesKotlin
TechnologiesPostgreSQL
TechnologiesExpo
Let’s talk about your SQLite project
Tell us what you are trying to build or fix. We will come back with scope, approach and an honest view on cost and timeline.