Open-Source Databases · indradb

indradb

IndraDB is a graph database written in Rust that stores vertices, edges, and JSON properties. It supports multiple deployment modes (in-memory, RocksDB, PostgreSQL) and can be accessed via gRPC for cross-language use or embedded directly in Rust applications.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/indradb/indradb

2.5k

GitHub stars

132

Forks

Rust

Primary language

MPL-2.0

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	indradb/indradb
Owner	indradb
Primary language	Rust
License	MPL-2.0 — OSI-approved
Stars	2.5k
Forks	132
Open issues	17
Latest release	v5.0.0 (2025-08-16)
Last updated	2025-08-16
Source	https://github.com/indradb/indradb

What indradb is

IndraDB provides directed, typed graphs with multi-hop queries and property indexing, designed around TAO principles for scalability. It offers pluggable datastores (memory, RocksDB, PostgreSQL, sled), gRPC APIs, and a Rust library with no garbage collection overhead.

Quickstart

Get the indradb source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/indradb/indradb.git2cd indradb3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Real-time graph traversal at scale

Ideal for systems requiring fast multi-hop queries on large graphs (e.g., social networks, recommendation engines) where TAO-inspired design prioritizes query efficiency over full graph processing.

Rust backend embedding

Excellent for Rust services that need a graph store without external dependencies; use the library directly for embedding or gRPC for standalone server deployment.

Polyglot microservices with graph needs

Suitable for teams using multiple languages (Python, Java, Go, etc.) to query a shared graph via gRPC bindings, with official Python client available.

Implementation considerations

Choose datastore carefully: memory is fastest but non-durable; RocksDB balances speed and persistence; PostgreSQL offloads durability and may suit enterprise environments.
Explicit syncing required for memory datastore; applications must call Sync() to persist data to disk.
Rust library requires protobuf toolchain and gcc 5+ to build from source; pre-compiled binaries available for Linux/macOS.
gRPC server runs on port 27615 by default; firewall and network topology must be configured for cross-language clients.
Graph design must anticipate query patterns; indices on properties improve performance but add ingestion overhead.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

ACID transactions required — Memory and RocksDB datastores lack strong transactional guarantees; only PostgreSQL backend may offer that (requires separate evaluation).
Full-graph analytics workloads — Not designed for iterative, compute-heavy graph algorithms; TAO-inspired design assumes full graph processing is infeasible.
Schema flexibility needed — Typed, directed graph model with JSON properties is rigid; if your data model is highly heterogeneous or requires schema migration, this may constrain design.
Production-grade HA/replication not available — No built-in replication or high-availability mode documented; single-server or manual replication setup required.

License & commercial use

Licensed under Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), a weak copyleft license requiring modifications to the library itself to be open-sourced, but allowing proprietary applications that link or use it.

MPL-2.0 permits commercial use and proprietary applications. Requires review if you modify IndraDB source code directly (modifications must be disclosed); embedding or using via gRPC does not trigger copyleft. Consult legal counsel for specific deployment model.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Adequate
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Moderate
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

gRPC server has no documented authentication/authorization layer by default; production deployment must add reverse proxy or network isolation. No security audit or CVE history visible in provided data. Rust language mitigates memory safety issues. Requires review of datastore-specific security (e.g., PostgreSQL access controls).

Alternatives to consider

Neo4j

Mature, feature-rich graph database with strong HA/clustering, ACID transactions, and Cypher query language; enterprise support available; trade-off is higher operational complexity and licensing cost.

ArangoDB

Multi-model database (graph, document, search); strong consistency options; good for polyglot deployments; more operational overhead than IndraDB.

TigerGraph

Purpose-built for graph analytics and iterative algorithms; stronger OLAP capabilities; significant licensing and operational investment required.

Software development agency

Build on indradb with DEV.co software developers

Assess whether IndraDB's TAO-inspired design and Rust performance fit your query patterns. Review datastore options (memory, RocksDB, PostgreSQL) and plan for authentication/HA in production. Contact Devco for architecture review.

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indradb FAQ

Can I use IndraDB in production?

Yes, but assess datastore choice carefully. Memory+persistence is suitable for small-to-medium graphs. RocksDB adds durability. PostgreSQL backend (separate crate) may suit enterprise. No built-in HA; single-failure design.

What query language does IndraDB use?

Proprietary query API (no SQL or Cypher equivalent). Library/gRPC methods accept query objects; examples show SpecificEdgeQuery and similar constructs. Not SQL-compatible.

How large can a graph be?

Memory datastore limited by RAM. RocksDB/PostgreSQL scale to disk/remote storage. TAO design assumes full-graph processing is infeasible, so use case should favor local traversal over global algorithms.

Is authentication built-in?

Not documented in provided material. Requires review; production deployments should add network security or reverse proxy authentication.

Software development & web development with DEV.co

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