Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ObjectBox VS Automerge

Compare ObjectBox VS Automerge and see what are their differences

ObjectBox logo ObjectBox

ObjectBox empower edge computing with an edge device database and synchronization solution for Mobile & IoT. Store and sync data from edge to cloud.

Automerge logo Automerge

A JSON-like data structure (a CRDT) that can be modified concurrently by different users, and merged again automatically.
  • ObjectBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-06

ObjectBox is a super fast database and sychronization solution, built uniquely for Mobile and IoT devices. ObjectBox is uniquely designed for small devices, so it is the ideal solution across hardware from Mobile Apps, to IoT Devices and IoT Gateways. It is the first high-performance NoSQL, ACID-compliant on-device edge database. Plus, it's built with developers in mind, with easy to use code that takes minimal time to implement.

ObjectBox supports Java, C/C++, Go, Kotlin, Swift and Python. Running on Android, Mac/iOS, Windows, Linux, Raspbian & more.

  • Automerge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-02

ObjectBox features and specs

  • Performance
    ObjectBox is known for its high performance in terms of speed. It provides fast data access and efficient data storage, which can be crucial for mobile applications and IoT devices.
  • Ease of Use
    ObjectBox offers an intuitive API that simplifies database management. Developers can easily implement it without needing extensive database expertise.
  • Object-Oriented Approach
    ObjectBox allows developers to work with database objects directly, eliminating the need for ORMs and reducing boilerplate code.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Supports multiple platforms including Android, iOS, Linux, and others, enabling seamless data management across different operating systems.
  • Automatic Updates
    ObjectBox provides automatic database schema migrations, making it easier to manage changes without manual intervention.
  • Size
    It has a small footprint, which is beneficial for mobile applications where space and resources are constrained.

Possible disadvantages of ObjectBox

  • Limited Complexity Handling
    While great for simpler use cases, ObjectBox may face challenges with complex queries and data structures compared to more traditional SQL-based databases.
  • Community and Support
    Being a relatively newer database solution, it has a smaller community compared to established databases like SQLite, potentially reducing the availability of community-driven support and resources.
  • Feature Set
    It might lack some advanced features found in other databases, such as customized SQL queries, which could be limiting for some applications.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Using ObjectBox ties you to its ecosystem, which might limit flexibility if you choose to switch databases in the future.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its ease of use, developers unfamiliar with NoSQL or object database paradigms might encounter a learning curve.

Automerge features and specs

  • Conflict Resolution
    Automerge uses CRDTs to offer automatic conflict resolution, allowing concurrent edits without manual merging.
  • Offline Support
    Automerge enables applications to work offline by keeping track of changes locally and syncing when back online.
  • Ease of Use
    The library provides a simple API that makes it easy to integrate into applications that require real-time collaboration.
  • No Central Server Requirement
    Automerge allows peer-to-peer communication, which can reduce the need for a centralized server to handle document changes.
  • Version Control
    Automatically keeps track of document history and changes, which can be useful for version control and auditing purposes.

Possible disadvantages of Automerge

  • Performance
    Automerge can consume significant memory and processing power, particularly in large documents or with frequent updates.
  • Complexity of CRDTs
    For developers unfamiliar with Conflict-free Replicated Data Types, understanding and implementing them can present a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    As a relatively niche tool, Automerge has a smaller community and fewer available third-party integrations compared to more established libraries.
  • Data Structure Limitations
    Automerge supports a limited set of data structures, which can constrain the kinds of applications for which it is suitable.
  • Network Overhead
    The peer-to-peer and CRDT nature of Automerge may lead to increased network traffic, which can be problematic in bandwidth-constrained environments.

Analysis of ObjectBox

Overall verdict

  • ObjectBox is a strong choice for projects that require a reliable, fast, and resource-efficient database solution, especially in mobile or IoT contexts. Its ease of use and robust feature set make it a viable option for developers seeking to implement a high-performance local storage solution.

Why this product is good

  • ObjectBox is considered good for several reasons. It offers high performance with ACID compliance, supports edge computing scenarios by being suitable for mobile and IoT devices with small resource footprints, and provides an easy-to-use API. ObjectBox DB is optimized for speed, allowing for faster read and write operations compared to traditional databases, which can be crucial for applications requiring real-time data processing. Additionally, ObjectBox provides support for complex queries and relationships while still maintaining simplicity in its setup.

Recommended for

  • Developers building mobile applications that require efficient local data storage.
  • IoT projects where space and performance are critical.
  • Applications that need real-time data processing and quick access to large volumes of data.
  • Projects that benefit from edge computing capabilities, where computing is performed on-device.

ObjectBox videos

Getting Started with Objectbox for Android / Java

More videos:

  • Review - ObjectBox - Startup of Startupnight 2018

Automerge videos

Automerge: a new foundation for collaboration software

More videos:

  • Review - Creating Local-First Collaboration Software with Automerge • Martin Kleppmann • GOTO 2023

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ObjectBox and Automerge)
Databases
78 78%
22% 22
NoSQL Databases
84 84%
16% 16
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using ObjectBox and Automerge. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

ObjectBox might be a bit more popular than Automerge. We know about 7 links to it since March 2021 and only 5 links to Automerge. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ObjectBox mentions (7)

  • Publishing to F-Droid
    When I first attempted to publish to F-Droid, I experienced several pipeline issues. After reading through the pipeline logs in GitLab, I realized that my application's database (ObjectBox) was not entirely FOSS compliant and was causing build failures. The following day was spent migrating my app to Room. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Looking for android java developer mentor
    I would focus on Kotlin instead of Java, there's really no point in sticking to Java at this point. And when it comes to databases, some local ones that are pretty easy to get into are Realm and ObjectBox, SQLite can definitely be a bit overwhelming at the beginning. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Want to build a simple database app....Where do I start
    Just to add to this, there's also Realm and ObjectBox as alternatives. Source: over 2 years ago
  • EdgeDB 2.0
    Adding ObjectBox [0] to the list. [0] https://objectbox.io/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Embedded databases - What is an embedded database? and how to choose one
    While - strictly speaking - "database" refers to a systematic collection of data, "Database Management System'', or DBMS, refers to the piece of software that provides an efficient and versatile method of working with data(eg: ObjectBox). However, often the term "database" is also used loosely to refer to a DBMS, and you will find most DBMS only use the term database in their name and communication. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
View more

Automerge mentions (5)

  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (October 2024)
    A sqlite extension that provides a virtual table backed by an Automerge document (https://automerge.org/). I believe that there are plenty of applications that could benefit from the collaboration or sync-ability that CRDTs provide, but that don't need to manage the CRDTs directly. Moving the CRDT management into the database seems like a natural fit. It's very early, and not public anywhere, but I'd be happy to... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Comparing local-first frameworks and approaches
    Ink & Switch released automerge to automatically achieve this merge. If you have two documents you are collaboratively editing, you can use automerge to make concurrent changes. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • 5000x Faster CRDTs
    > The most popular, highly ergonomic, best implementations of CRDTs actually break the academic rules of CRDTs. There's a popular, highly ergonomic implementation called Automerge[0] that would beg to disagree with you. [0]: https://automerge.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Using CRDTs to build collaborative Rust web applications
    If you plan to build production-grade CRDT-based software and don’t want to build every piece of it by hand, I recommend Automerge as a library for handling all your CRDT needs, but it’s always good to look under the hood to build intuition and understanding for the underlying concepts. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Figma Is a File Editor
    Take a look at https://automerge.org/ and the stack those folks are building. You're exactly right that it's a difficult balance (specifically the trick is proving commutativity for the domain-specific data of your application). But automerge (and then https://github.com/inkandswitch/peritext) show it's at least possible. Good stuff. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ObjectBox and Automerge, you can also consider the following products

Realm.io - Realm is a mobile platform and a replacement for SQLite & Core Data. Build offline-first, reactive mobile experiences using simple data sync.

PouchDB - Open-source JavaScript database inspired by Apache CouchDB that's designed to run well within the browser

CompactView - Viewer for Microsoft® SQL Server® CE database files (sdf)

Yjs - A CRDT framework with a powerful abstraction of shared data, Shared data types for building collaborative software

Microsoft SQL Server Compact - Bring Microsoft SQL Server 2017 to the platform of your choice. Use SQL Server 2017 on Windows, Linux, and Docker containers.

RxDB - A fast, offline-first, reactive Database for JavaScript Applications