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Open-Source Databases · olric-data

olric

Olric is a distributed, in-memory key-value store and cache written in Go that can run as an embedded library or standalone service. It uses the Redis protocol, supports automatic partitioning and replication, and is designed for fast data sharing across clusters.

Source: GitHub — github.com/olric-data/olric
3.5k
GitHub stars
147
Forks
Go
Primary language
Apache-2.0
License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

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

FieldValue
Repositoryolric-data/olric
Ownerolric-data
Primary languageGo
LicenseApache-2.0 — OSI-approved
Stars3.5k
Forks147
Open issues18
Latest releasev0.7.4 (2026-06-12)
Last updated2026-06-26
Sourcehttps://github.com/olric-data/olric

What olric is

Go-based distributed hash table offering RESP protocol compatibility, quorum-based replica control, eventual consistency (PA/EC), configurable eviction policies (LRU, TTL, MaxIdleDuration), and pub-sub messaging. Data is automatically sharded and rebalanced without external coordination.

Quickstart

Get the olric source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash
git clone https://github.com/olric-data/olric.gitcd olric# follow the project's README for install & configuration

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

Best use cases

Distributed Caching Layer

Ideal for caching transient, fast-changing data across a cluster. Auto-sharding and rebalancing eliminate manual coordination.

Pub-Sub Messaging

Drop-in Redis Pub-Sub replacement for event distribution across cluster members without external message brokers.

Shared Cluster State Management

Managing application state (sessions, counters, locks) across multiple servers with automatic consistency enforcement.

Implementation considerations

  • Embedded library requires Go application; standalone server mode needs separate infrastructure and network coordination.
  • Replication is synchronous by default but can be configured async—choose based on consistency vs. performance tradeoff.
  • Quorum-based read/write voting adds latency; tune replica counts and quorum settings for your availability target.
  • No built-in authentication by default; AUTH command exists but security posture requires verification for production use.
  • Eviction policies (LRU, TTL) apply per-node; ensure memory limits align with cluster capacity for predictable behavior.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

  • Strict Consistency Required — Olric provides eventual consistency (PA/EC per PACELC). Not suitable for financial transactions or strict ACID requirements.
  • Persistent Long-term Storage — In-memory only; no disk persistence. Data loss occurs on cluster failure. Use Redis or persistent databases for durability.
  • Language-Agnostic Requirement on Embedded Mode — Embedded mode requires Go integration. Standalone service mode is available but adds operational complexity.
  • Large-scale Horizontal Scaling Concerns — While claimed to handle hundreds of members, production validation at scale is not evident from public data.

License & commercial use

Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). Permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions (license text and notice required).

Apache-2.0 is commercially safe for closed-source products and services. No license fees or commercial restrictions. However, verify your specific use case (embedded library vs. standalone service) and any proprietary modifications against Apache-2.0 obligations.

DEV.co evaluation signals

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

SignalAssessment
MaintenanceActive
DocumentationAdequate
License clarityClear
Deployment complexityModerate
DEV.co fitGood
Assessment confidenceHigh
Security considerations

AUTH command is mentioned but not clarified as enabled by default. In-memory data is vulnerable to node compromise; encryption at rest and in transit not discussed. No audit logging or multi-tenancy isolation documented. Quorum voting provides some split-brain protection but is not a full Byzantine fault tolerance mechanism. Evaluate threat model and network isolation requirements before production use.

Alternatives to consider

Redis Cluster

Battle-tested, broader ecosystem, better documentation, persistent storage options (RDB, AOF). More mature for production use.

Memcached

Simpler, lower memory overhead for pure caching. No cluster coordination; suitable if eventual consistency and auto-sharding are not critical.

Apache Ignite

Full-featured distributed cache with SQL, compute grids, and persistence. More feature-rich but higher operational complexity.

Software development agency

Build on olric with DEV.co software developers

Review Olric's Apache-2.0 license, consistency guarantees, and cluster architecture. Assess production readiness and compare against Redis Cluster or Memcached for your use case.

Talk to DEV.co

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olric FAQ

Can Olric persist data to disk?
No. Olric is in-memory only. Data is lost on cluster failure. Use Redis, Memcached with external caching layers, or a persistent database if durability is required.
Is Olric production-ready?
Current version is v0.7.4 (pre-1.0). Production use is possible but requires careful testing. Validate consistency model, failover behavior, and resource limits for your workload.
How does Olric compare to Redis?
Olric uses Redis RESP protocol for compatibility but focuses on distributed caching without persistence. Redis is mature, broader in features (Streams, Geo, Sorted Sets), and has larger ecosystem.
Can I use Olric in Kubernetes?
Yes, Docker image exists. Service discovery plugin interface supports custom implementations, but no Helm chart or operator simplification is mentioned. Requires manual cluster setup.

Custom software development services

DEV.co helps companies turn open-source tools like olric into production software. Our software development services cover the full lifecycle — architecture, web development, integration, and maintenance — delivered by software developers and web developers who ship. Engage our software development agency to implement or customize it for your open-source databases stack.

Evaluate Olric for Your Distributed Caching Needs

Review Olric's Apache-2.0 license, consistency guarantees, and cluster architecture. Assess production readiness and compare against Redis Cluster or Memcached for your use case.