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Published Friday January 24, 2025

Roadmap for StarbaseDB

Brayden Wilmoth

Brayden Wilmoth

@BraydenWilmoth
Roadmap for StarbaseDB

The way we think about databases is changing, and at Outerbase, we’re excited to be leading the charge. With StarbaseDB, we’re making it easier than ever to build and manage databases that aren’t just powerful but also flexible enough to meet the needs of modern, global applications. In this post, we’re thrilled to share what’s next: the beta launch of managed StarbaseDB instances, exciting features like database plugins, and a sneak peek at what’s coming soon—like edge read replicas (“Satellites”) to bring your data closer to your users. Whether you’re looking for smarter database tools, seamless integrations with your existing setup, or just a fun community that wants to build the best database tooling in the world, StarbaseDB has something for you.

Let’s dive into the details!

Managed Instances

We’re excited to announce the limited beta launch of hosted StarbaseDB instances, now available directly within the Outerbase platform. With just a few clicks, you can spin up fully managed SQLite databases, designed to combine simplicity with powerful functionality. Each instance includes an Internal SQLite database, ready for you to use like any traditional database. What sets StarbaseDB apart is its ability to connect seamlessly with External data sources—such as a hosted Postgres instance on Supabase—enabling advanced use cases like edge-placed query caching, query allowlist enforcement, and more. This flexibility empowers you to build smarter, more dynamic database solutions tailored to your needs.

Think of it as similar to Cloudflare’s D1 database offering, but with more tools, identical infrastructure, and a better developer experience.

Features

FeatureDescription
SQLite DatabaseInternal SQLite database source automatically included.
External Data SourcesConnect to your external Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, and more databases to provide an extension to existing databases.
REST APIProvides a REST-ful API interface to interact with your database tables on both internal SQLite and externally connected databases.
WebSocketEstablish secure websockets to query data or listen to registered events.
Query AllowlistPrevent unauthorized queries from being executed on your databases.
Query CachingOptionally cache queries for faster responses on both internal and external databases.
Outerbase StudioBuilt-in GUI for you to view your deployed database instances easily.
Row Level SecuritySend authenticated requests with user JWT tokens to restrict row access.
Change Data Capture*Subscribe to mutation events on your tables and be notified via WebSockets or custom callbacks.
Resend Email*Send emails to your team or your users easily.
Stripe Subscriptions*Accept Stripe subscriptions by providing two keys and we handle the callbacks and table creation for you.
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(*) annotates an optional plugin. We do have private Enterprise plugins that will be more readily made available through the Outerbase UI in coming months such as Dynamic Data Masking (a plugin that allows you to safely connect your data source to AI or share with other individuals and redact/remove/randomize private data).

Limits

Today instances are built on top of Cloudflare Durable Objects and currently share similar limitations to D1 and Durable Objects. We are currently exploring ways around these limitations.

FeatureLimit
Maximum database size1 GB during beta phase
Maximum number of columns per table100
Maximum rows per tableUnlimited
Maximum SQL statement length100,000 bytes (100 KB)
CPU per request30 seconds

“Satellites” - Read Replicas on the Edge

Today, our deployments operate as single-region distribution deployments, which can create performance bottlenecks when your data needs to be accessed globally. To address this, we’re actively working on introducing “Satellites”, a feature that will enable read replicas to be deployed at the edge, closer to your users. These edge replicas will reduce latency, improve query performance, and provide a seamless experience for applications with a geographically distributed user base.

Stay tuned as we roll this feature out. It will start in an upcoming phase of our limited beta access with the goal of ensuring your data is always accessible no matter where your users are.

Deploy in your Own Cloud

Enterprise and private use cases often require more flexibility on how technologies are used and more importantly where they are distributed and how they are accessed. Data above all else has strict organizational requirements that must be adhered to. Today all Starbase instances are deployed into Cloudflare and on their state of the art globally distributed network.

While this satisfies most use cases, there are moments where users want to own all of their data, or maybe the current limits are too restrictive. For those users we are currently exploring offering private cloud and on-premise deployments of durable object based StarbaseDBs.

Open Community

We want the beating heart of everything at Outerbase to be centered around community. In 2025 our commitment to this initiative has never been stronger as we continue to open-source more of our core product and technologies that power the platform–including Starbase. Getting more people involved and contributing to these technologies is a new focus and we want to warmly welcome everyone into helping us build the future of databases.

If you’re new to Outerbase here are two of our most popular open source repositories:

Studio – The best frontend database interface on the planet

StarbaseDB – SQLite database and service layer for new & existing databases

Open Source Bounties

Starting today we have began opening up public issues in our StarbaseDB repository where some include a new “Bounty” tag to them. This is our way to continue encouraging and rewarding our community to keep building alongside us.

Shout out to Algora for creating a wonderful open-source bounty program.

Conclusion

StarbaseDB marks a bold step in Outerbase’s journey to redefine database infrastructure for the modern era. From empowering developers with seamless integrations to fostering an open-source community that thrives on innovation, our vision is clear: to make databases smarter, faster, and more accessible for everyone. As we continue to roll out new features, plugins, and open-source initiatives, we invite you to join us on this journey—whether by trying out our managed instances, contributing to our open-source projects, or simply sharing your ideas. The future of databases starts here, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll build with StarbaseDB.

Space, at your fingertips
astronaut

What will you discover?