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RxDB VS PouchDB

Compare RxDB VS PouchDB and see what are their differences

RxDB logo RxDB

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

PouchDB logo PouchDB

Open-source JavaScript database inspired by Apache CouchDB that's designed to run well within the browser
  • RxDB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20

RxDB, which stands for Reactive Database, is a JavaScript-based NoSQL database designed for a wide range of applications such as websites, hybrid apps, Electron apps, progressive web apps, and Node.js. The "reactive" aspect of RxDB allows you not only to retrieve the current state of the database but also to subscribe to all changes in the state, including query results or specific fields within a document. This feature is particularly advantageous for real-time user interface applications, as it facilitates development and offers notable performance benefits. Additionally, RxDB can be utilized to build efficient backends in Node.js.

  • PouchDB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-23

RxDB

Website
rxdb.info
$ Details
freemium €400.0 / Annually
Release Date
2016 December

PouchDB

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-

RxDB features and specs

  • Offline-First Architecture
    RxDB is designed with an offline-first approach, allowing applications to function seamlessly without a constant internet connection by utilizing local storage and synchronizing with the server when online.
  • Reactive Data Stores
    The library offers real-time data synchronization and reactive data stores, enabling automatic updates to the UI when the underlying database changes.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    RxDB works across various platforms, including web browsers, Node.js, and mobile devices, providing flexibility for developers in building cross-platform applications.
  • Flexible Schema Management
    RxDB supports JSON Schema for defining data models, allowing developers to enforce data consistency and validation effectively.
  • Replication and Sync
    Comes with built-in replication features that ensure easy data synchronization between client and server databases, helping maintain data consistency across different devices and users.

PouchDB features and specs

  • Offline-first Architecture
    PouchDB is designed for offline-first applications, allowing users to access and interact with data without requiring a constant internet connection. It automatically syncs with a CouchDB-compatible server when a connection is available.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    PouchDB runs in the browser, Node.js, and other platforms, enabling developers to build applications that work consistently across desktop and mobile devices.
  • CouchDB Compatibility
    Being compatible with CouchDB, PouchDB allows developers to easily sync data between the client and server, leveraging CouchDB's replication and conflict resolution features.
  • Easy to Use
    PouchDB provides a simple API that is easy to understand and use, which can speed up the development process, especially for developers familiar with document-based databases.
  • Rich Querying Capabilities
    PouchDB supports MapReduce, Mango queries, and a few advanced indexing features that offer flexible ways to query data based on specific requirements.

Possible disadvantages of PouchDB

  • Limited Built-in Security
    While PouchDB can work offline, securing data at rest or implementing authentication requires additional work, as it does not provide substantial security features out of the box.
  • Database Size Limitations
    When used in the browser, PouchDB's storage capacity is limited by the browser's storage limits, which might not be sufficient for certain applications with large datasets.
  • Performance Overhead
    PouchDB can introduce some performance overhead due to its JavaScript implementation and the use of MapReduce on larger datasets, which may not be as fast as native database implementations.
  • Complex Conflict Resolution
    While conflict resolution is supported, handling conflicts can become complex, requiring developers to implement robust conflict management strategies within their applications.
  • Dependency on CouchDB
    Although PouchDB is designed to work offline, the synchronization capabilities depend on CouchDB (or a compatible server), meaning that certain features may not work without such a backend setup.

RxDB videos

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PouchDB videos

Getting started with PouchDB and CouchDB (tutorial)

More videos:

  • Review - CouchDB everywhere with PouchDB - Dale Harvey, Mozilla

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RxDB and PouchDB)
NoSQL Databases
47 47%
53% 53
Databases
43 43%
57% 57
Developer Tools
51 51%
49% 49
JavaScript
48 48%
52% 52

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare RxDB and PouchDB

RxDB Reviews

10 Best Open Source Firebase Alternatives
Reactive Database or RxDB is a real-time NoSQL database for JavaScript apps such as progressive web apps, electron apps, PWAs, hybrid apps, and websites. Reactive means that you get to query the current state while subscribing to all state changes like the result of a single field of a document or query.

PouchDB Reviews

We have no reviews of PouchDB yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PouchDB should be more popular than RxDB. It has been mentiond 29 times since March 2021. 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.

RxDB mentions (13)

  • Stop Syncing Everything
    > I'm thinking to give it a try in one of my React Native apps that face very uncertain connectivity. Some similar stuff you may want to investigate (no real opinion, just sharing since I've investigated this space a bit): - https://rxdb.info. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Show HN: Triplit – Open-source syncing database that runs on server and client
    Looks like it could be a more batteries-included/opinionated alternative to RxDB (https://rxdb.info). The relational queries might help some people who tend to think in SQL as opposed to documents (as in CouchDB or MongoDB) and the WebSockets for synchronization will help people get started more quickly. (RxDB provides interfaces for those who want to implement their own storage engine and/or synchronization... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • HackNote
    Some years ago "offline-first" was a thing: https://web.archive.org/web/20170720174332/http://hood.ie/initiatives/#offline-first Primarily based on PouchDB/CouchDB. Now the site redirects to RxDB. https://rxdb.info/ There's still a site by that name but I don't quite understand what's the intention https://offlinefirst.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Ask HN: How Can I Make My Front End React to Database Changes in Real-Time?
    I'm interested in this problem also! I think there is a large overlap with projects that market/focus on offline-first experiences. AFAIK this problem can be solved by: 1) Considering a client-side copy of the database that gets synced with the remote DB. This is an approach [PowerSync](https://www.powersync.com/) and [ElectricSql](https://electric-sql.com/) and [rxdb](https://rxdb.info/) take! - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • You can't leak users' data if you don't hold it
    Hey, after I posted that, I went and gave a second look online to see if I could find something that would allow me to develop a local-first app with offline persistence and syncing capabilities. I ended up finding some possibilities out there that could potentially help me build stuff. One of them is RxDB [1], which offers WebRTC syncing - you'd still need a signaling server, I suppose, but all sensitive... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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PouchDB mentions (29)

  • Show HN: GoatDB – A Lightweight, Offline-First, Realtime NoDB for Deno and React
    Why not just use pouchdb? It's pretty battle-tested, syncs with couchdb if you want a path to a more robust backend? edit: https://pouchdb.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • CouchDB: Offline-first with multi-master synchronization using Docker and Docker-compose
    Good platform scalability from server to mobile (PouchDB). - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Top FP technologies
    Document based reliable scalable database with nicely designed HTTP/JSON interface. With accompanient of Pouchdb can be the best choice for offline-first applications with low effort data syncronisation. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Comparing local-first frameworks and approaches
    “The Database that Syncs!” shouts the PouchDB homepage. PouchDB is another new local-first/sync database. PouchDB is a JavaScript database that runs in the browser, allowing developers to create applications that work offline and sync with server-side databases when online. It’s designed to be compatible with (and is inspired by) Apache’s NoSQL CouchDB. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Major updates from the open source community: Release Radar · June 2024
    Speaking of databases, this one is pocket-sized. PouchDB is a JavaScript database designed to run in the browser. This latest release includes over 202 merged PRs 😮, and comes with improved stability and performance. There's the ability to streamline the automated test suites and improve in-browser testing. Read up on the major changes in the changelog. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing RxDB and PouchDB, you can also consider the following products

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

CouchDB - HTTP + JSON document database with Map Reduce views and peer-based replication

Redis - Redis is an open source in-memory data structure project implementing a distributed, in-memory key-value database with optional durability.

GraphQL - GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.

GUN - Self-hosted Firebase.

DataGrip - Tool for SQL and databases