traildb/traildb
FreeTrailDB is an efficient tool for storing and querying series of events
FreeFree tier
About traildb/traildb
TrailDB is an efficient open-source C library and command-line tool for storing and querying large collections of time-series event data. It is designed for high-performance data analytics on sequences of events, with support for fast queries and compact storage. The repository includes the core C library, a CLI tool (tdb), and Python bindings. It is available under the MIT license and can be installed via Homebrew on macOS or built from source on Linux, FreeBSD, and other systems.
Key Features
Efficient storage and querying of series of events
Core C library with low memory footprint
Command-line tool (tdb) for data exploration and management
Python bindings for integration with data analysis workflows
Optimized for time-series and event data analytics
Open source under the MIT license
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly efficient storage and query performance for event sequences
- Open source with a permissive MIT license
- Lightweight C library suitable for embedded or high-throughput systems
- Simple command-line interface for quick data inspection
- Supports multiple platforms (macOS, Linux, FreeBSD)
Cons
- Requires compilation from source on many systems (prebuilt binaries limited to macOS via Homebrew)
- Not a full database system; lacks SQL or relational query capabilities
- Limited ecosystem and third-party integrations compared to broader time-series databases
Best For
Storing and analyzing time-series data from sensors or logsBuilding analytics pipelines for event-driven systemsData mining on large event sequencesHistorical data querying for big data applications
FAQ
What is TrailDB?
TrailDB is an efficient tool for storing and querying series of events, implemented as a C library with a command-line interface.
How do I install TrailDB?
On macOS, you can install it via Homebrew: `brew install traildb`. On other systems, you can compile from source using the provided build system (waf or autotools).
What are the dependencies for building TrailDB?
Dependencies include libarchive, libjudy (Judy), and pkg-config. On Debian/Ubuntu: `apt-get install libarchive-dev libjudy-dev pkg-config`. On RPM-based: `yum install judy-devel libarchive-devel pkg-config`. On macOS: `brew install traildb/judy/judy libarchive pkg-config`.
Is TrailDB open source?
Yes, TrailDB is released under the MIT license.