While SQLite serves its purpose, it’s not universally suitable. Discover how to effortlessly set up install-free versions of MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis for all your development requirements.
For applications handling substantial amounts of data, the default approach often involves storing it within a database. Depending on the project’s scope, this could range from a simple SQLite setup to a more robust PostgreSQL solution.
The real challenge frequently isn’t choosing the right database, but rather implementing it effectively. Enterprise-grade databases like PostgreSQL offer immense capabilities but come with considerable setup overhead. Getting a database server up and running smoothly isn’t typically enjoyable. While Docker containers present an option, integrating them fully into an existing workflow can be a daunting task if you’re not already using Docker extensively.
This complexity has spurred the development of self-contained database solutions. These packages condense everything into a single executable or a self-contained directory, eliminating external dependencies and formal installation processes. SQLite is a prime example of this model, though it may not always be the most powerful choice. Fortunately, several other potent databases now offer similar self-contained benefits, including some popular high-performance options. Even better, some are available as easy-to-integrate application libraries for widely used programming languages.
MariaDB
If you’re looking for a completely self-sufficient MariaDB instance, you have a few avenues: you can build one yourself with some effort, opt for a pre-packaged third-party version, or utilize a portable full-stack environment that bundles a web server and other utilities alongside the database.
Nathaniel Sabanski has detailed the steps necessary to manually configure a standalone MariaDB setup. This involves downloading and extracting the binaries, creating a basic configuration file, and then launching the server along with any required management tools. You’ll be responsible for all future upgrades and maintenance, but the guide simplifies the initial process. For Microsoft Windows users, selecting the .ZIP file is recommended for easier extraction, and the mysql_install_db.exe application can be used for setup (the default settings are usually sufficient).
For an even more streamlined download and extraction process, Andy Targino offers pre-packaged, self-contained MariaDB binaries.
Should your project necessitate a web server in addition to the database, alongside other potential components, the XAMPP stack is an excellent choice. This comprehensive package includes MariaDB, the Apache web server, the PHP runtime, the Mercury SMTP mail server, web-based control panels for all elements, and a desktop service manager. It also integrates OpenSSL for robust https functionality.
PostgreSQL
While various portable PostgreSQL solutions have appeared and disappeared over the years (such as this particular project), configuring your own standalone PostgreSQL application requires relatively minimal effort. Simply download the binaries (excluding the setup utilities), extract them into a chosen directory, and then execute initdb to establish the fundamental configuration. After this, you can employ pg_ctl to manage starting and stopping the database as required.
For Python developers, a remarkably elegant solution exists for embedding a self-contained PostgreSQL instance directly into an application: pgserver. This pip install-able library bundles a complete, standalone PostgreSQL instance. The entire application, including its binaries, resides within your Python program’s virtual environment. While it adds approximately 30MB to the venv’s base size, the resulting ease of use is unparalleled.
MongoDB
MongoDB binaries are distributed without an installer, theoretically allowing them to be executed from any location. However, achieving tighter integration with a specific application without a formal installation process is also achievable.
Much like the pgserver library serves PostgreSQL and Python, portable-mongodb offers a similar benefit for MongoDB and Node.js. Incorporating it into a Node project provides a dedicated, automatically provisioned MongoDB instance for that project, or for various other project environments as needed.
For those preferring a DIY approach with more precise control over deployment, Atikur Rahman has published detailed instructions for establishing a self-contained MongoDB instance. The process is surprisingly straightforward.
Redis
On Linux, Windows, and macOS, Redis is commonly run via a Docker container or installed through a package manager (such as APT, RPM, Snap, or Homebrew). However, for a fully portable, Docker-free experience on Windows, a community-maintained build of Redis offers standalone Windows binaries. These are compiled directly from source and regularly updated to align with the latest releases.
