January 1, 2026
Gossip DBs, memes, and hot takes
Marmot – A distributed SQLite server with MySQL wire compatible interface
A no-boss database that talks MySQL; fans cheer, skeptics ask if it scales
TLDR: Marmot v2 turns SQLite into a leaderless, MySQL‑speaking cluster that replicates data and schema across nodes. The crowd cheers the features but argues about scaling writes; the author shares a scrappy origin story, and one user’s real-world testimony says Marmot was the only tool that handled their data.
Marmot v2 just rolled out, promising a “no boss” database: any server can accept writes, and changes spread by gossip (yes, servers gossip!). It even “speaks” MySQL, so your usual tools plug right in. The crowd is buzzing about DDL replication (syncing table changes cluster-wide) and safer two-step commits. But the loudest cheer came with a side-eye: “does it scale?” One fan called sharding and routing “the final piece” for writing at massive speeds.
Then the drama: the author popped in like a main character—“Every time I post my own stuff here it seems to sink”—and spilled the origin story: triggers, message queues, and a hard pivot to full ACID (database safety rules) and DDL replication because that’s what people wanted. A real-world witness chimed in saying Marmot was the only thing that handled their exploding archive site, turning skepticism into receipts. Meanwhile, the meme factory started up: someone linked mORMot2 and joked that database devs really love marmots, unleashing rodent puns across the thread. Overall vibe: hype for the leaderless “write anywhere” promise, curiosity (and pressure) about sharding, and a dash of chaotic meme energy. The marmot is loose—and the comments are feral.
Key Points
- •Marmot v2 is a leaderless, distributed SQLite replication system exposing a MySQL-compatible interface.
- •Write coordination uses 2PC with configurable consistency levels (ONE, QUORUM, ALL) and LWW conflict resolution via HLC timestamps.
- •Cluster membership and failure detection rely on SWIM-style gossip; all nodes receive full database replication.
- •DDL replication includes distributed locking, idempotent statement rewriting, and schema version tracking via gossip.
- •The system provides quick-start scripts and supports standard MySQL clients (DBeaver, MySQL Workbench, mysql CLI) for direct access.