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Tiny, low-dependency SQL apps: Zen Notes as a trend in edge-ready data tooling

1 min read
168 words
Database Debates Tiny, Notes

Tiny, low-dependency SQL apps are turning up at the edge. Zen Notes is a prime example: a Go/Markdown/SQLite notes app with minimal deps and only 10MB of memory [1].

Lean Edge Footprint: The project proves lean, dependency-light SQL tooling can run where resources are tight, delivering an edge-friendly data note-taker with a tiny runtime [1].

• Centralize business logic in a web service — a common solution, but it can become a bottleneck for high-volume data and complicate ownership across teams [2].

• Materialized views can embed the needed logic for clients that can’t easily reach services, but they require a database connection and a managed application account [2].

• Hybrid: embed logic in a materialized view and expose the data via a web service for a balance between performance and governance [2].

Taken together, lean SQL apps like Zen Notes sit inside broader SQL-centric architectures where governance and deployment choices matter [2].

Closing thought: keep an eye on edge-first SQL tooling as these trade-offs shape real-world deployments.

References

[1]
HackerNews

Zen Notes: Go/Markdown/SQLite notes app with minimal deps and 10MB memory usage

Zen Notes is a Go/Markdown/SQLite notes app with minimal dependencies and 10MB memory usage.

View source
[2]
HackerNews

Why I Keep Business Logic Out of SQL

Discusses centralizing business logic in web services or materialized views versus SQL apps, with trade-offs for performance and governance complexity

View source

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