SQLite just gained a graph-sidekick: SQLite Graph Ext, a graph extension that runs Cypher inside a virtual table. It's an alpha project, but the execution pipeline already handles CREATE, MATCH, WHERE, and RETURN end-to-end, with real relationship patterns and JSON-serialized results [1].
• ORM and drivers - Because it’s exposed as a virtual table, popular SQLite-based ORMs and drivers could wire up to a graph store with minimal changes. The catch: alpha status means future API tweaks could require rework [1].
• Tooling and testing - The effort ships a solid test base: full 70/70 OpenCypher TCK coverage, plus a high-throughput pipeline (340K nodes/sec inserts, 390K edges/sec, 180K nodes/sec scans) used alongside SQLite [1].
• Current usability gaps - Forward-only relationships, no relationship-property filters, no variable-length paths, and no aggregations or ORDER BY in RETURN. Strings must use double quotes; the API may still change in alpha [1].
• Roadmap and ecosystem - Next up: bidirectional relationships, property projection, aggregations; goal is full Cypher by Q1 2026. It’s MIT licensed and standalone, so it can pair with existing tooling while the ecosystem grows [1].
Developers watching SQLite for graph workloads should treat this as a promising alpha with real potential to streamline graph workloads alongside SQL tooling. Adoption will hinge on tooling support from ORMs, drivers, and database clients [1].
References
Show HN: SQLite Graph – Graph database with Cypher queries (alpha, but working)
Adds a graph database layer to SQLite with Cypher support; supports CREATE, MATCH, and RETURN via a virtual table extension.
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