From Logs to Events: Two Ways to Do Real-Time Data Without CDC

Real-time data without CDC is no longer a unicorn. UnisonDB pitches a log-native core where the WAL is the database, not just a recovery mechanism, while Genesis DB CE offers a free, production-ready event store to try.

What UnisonDB does UnisonDB blends storage and streaming into one log-based core. Writes are durable, globally ordered, and streamable to followers in real time.

• Storage + Streaming = One System — no CDC, no Kafka, no sidecar pipelines ^[1] • B+Tree-backed storage with WAL-based replication; sub-second fan-out to 100+ nodes ^[1] • Multi-model support — KV, wide-column, and large objects in one atomic transaction ^[1] • Replication-native — WAL streams via gRPC; followers tail in real time ^[1] • Edge-friendly — replicas can go offline and resync instantly ^[1] • Reactive by design — every write emits a ZeroMQ notification ^[1]

Writes come with a deliberate tradeoff: consistency over raw write speed, and it’s ~2× faster than BoltDB with replication ^[1].

Genesis DB CE: Free, production-ready event store Genesis DB CE is the freely available Community Edition meant for teams, students, and independent developers who want to explore event sourcing without friction or use it productively in small-to-mid-sized projects. It’s powered by the same core engine as the commercial edition, delivering the same performance and reliability for serious developers ^[2].

When to pick which - If you need deep, built-in streaming and global ordering with minimal plumbing, a log-centric core shines (UnisonDB) ^[1]. - If you want a no-cost, production-ready option to learn or ship small-to-mid-sized projects, Genesis DB CE fits the bill (Genesis DB CE) ^[2].

Bottom line: scale, onboarding needs, and how you value integrated streaming versus ecosystem maturity drive the choice.

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