PG Kernel Forks
Simulate other DBMS, and replace vanilla PostgreSQL with exotic forks
Pigsty supports various PostgreSQL kernels and compatible forks, enabling you to simulate different database systems while leveraging PostgreSQL's ecosystem. Each kernel provides unique capabilities and compatibility layers.
Database Kernels
Citus
Native Distributive Extension
Babelfish
SQL Server wire-compatibile
IvorySQL
Oracle grammar & PL/SQL compatible
OpenHalo
MySQL wire-compatibility
OrioleDB
OLTP-optimized cloud-native storage engine
PolarDB PG
Aurora-like shared storage, with china compliance
Supabase
Backend as a Service, self-hosting Firebase
Greenplum
Massively parallel processing data warehouse
Choose the Right Kernel
Flexible Kernel: Choose the right kernel for your specific use case - whether you need MSSQL compatibility, Oracle features, or horizontal scaling capabilities.
| Kernel | Use Case | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Citus | Horizontal Scaling | Native Distributive PostgreSQL |
| WiltonDB | SQL Server Migration | SQL Server wire-compatibility |
| IvorySQL | Oracle Migration | Oracle Grammar and PL/SQL |
| OpenHalo | MySQL Migration | MySQL wire-protocol compatible |
| OrioleDB | OLTP Optimization | No bloat, cloud-native |
| PolarDB PG | Read Scaling | Shared storage architecture |
| Supabase | Rapid Development | Complete BaaS solution |
| Greenplum | Analytics/DW | Massively parallel processing |
Citus (Distributive)
Citus transforms PostgreSQL into a distributed database system, enabling horizontal scaling across multiple nodes. Deploy native HA Citus clusters with Pigsty for better throughput and performance.
Key Features
- Distributed Tables: Automatically shard tables across worker nodes
- Distributed Queries: Execute queries across the entire cluster
- High Availability: Built-in replication and failover capabilities
- Real-time Analytics: Handle both transactional and analytical workloads
- Postgres Compatibility: Maintain full PostgreSQL feature compatibility
Use Cases
- Multi-tenant SaaS applications requiring horizontal scaling
- Real-time analytics on large datasets
- High-throughput OLTP workloads
- Applications need to scale beyond single-node limitations
Planning Required: Proper shard key selection is crucial for optimal performance and avoiding cross-shard queries.
Babelfish (MSSQL)
Create SQL Server-compatible PostgreSQL clusters with WiltonDB and Babelfish, providing wire protocol-level compatibility with Microsoft SQL Server.
Key Features
- T-SQL Support: Execute T-SQL queries natively
- Wire Protocol Compatibility: Connect using SQL Server drivers and tools
- Stored Procedures: Support for T-SQL stored procedures and functions
- Data Types: Compatible with SQL Server data types and behaviors
- Migration Tools: Simplified migration from SQL Server environments
Use Cases
- Migrating legacy SQL Server applications to PostgreSQL
- Multi-database environments requiring SQL Server compatibility
- Cost reduction while maintaining application compatibility
- Cloud migration from SQL Server to open-source alternatives
Migration Path: Ideal for organizations looking to reduce licensing costs while maintaining existing SQL Server application compatibility.
IvorySQL (Oracle)
Run Oracle-compatible PostgreSQL clusters with the IvorySQL kernel, open-sourced by HighGo, providing Oracle syntax and feature compatibility.
Key Features
- PL/SQL Support: Execute PL/SQL code with minimal modifications
- Oracle Syntax: Support for Oracle-specific SQL syntax and functions
- Package Support: Oracle-style package and procedure definitions
- Data Types: Oracle-compatible data types and behaviors
- Migration Tools: Utilities for Oracle to PostgreSQL migration
Use Cases
- Oracle database migration projects
- Organizations seeking Oracle feature compatibility
- Cost optimization while preserving Oracle functionality
- Development environments requiring Oracle compatibility
Enterprise Focus: Particularly valuable for enterprises with significant Oracle investments looking for migration paths.
OpenHalo (MySQL)
The OpenHalo kernel provides MySQL-compatible PostgreSQL functionality, accessible using standard MySQL clients and protocols.
Key Features
- MySQL Protocol: Wire-level compatibility with MySQL protocol
- Client Compatibility: Use existing MySQL drivers and tools
- SQL Dialect: Support for MySQL-specific SQL syntax
- Migration Support: Simplified migration from MySQL environments
- Ecosystem Integration: Leverage PostgreSQL's advanced features with MySQL compatibility
Use Cases
- MySQL application migration to PostgreSQL
- Multi-database environments requiring MySQL compatibility
- Leveraging PostgreSQL features while maintaining MySQL interface
- Gradual migration strategies from MySQL to PostgreSQL
Early Stage: Currently experimental - evaluate thoroughly before production use.
OrioleDB (OLTP)
A PostgreSQL storage engine optimized for OLTP workloads, eliminating transaction ID wraparound issues and table bloat while supporting cloud storage.
Compatible with PostgreSQL 17, Available on all support platforms.
Key Features
- No XID Wraparound: Eliminates transaction ID wraparound maintenance
- No Table Bloat: Advanced storage management prevents table bloat
- Cloud Storage: Native support for S3-compatible object storage
- OLTP Optimization: Specifically designed for transactional workloads
- Improved Performance: Better space utilization and query performance
Use Cases
- High-frequency transactional applications
- Cloud-native deployments requiring object storage
- Applications suffering from PostgreSQL maintenance overhead
- Systems requiring consistent performance without vacuum cycles
Early Stage: Currently in Beta - evaluate thoroughly before production use.
PolarDB PG (RAC)
Replace vanilla PostgreSQL with PolarDB PG, an open-source Aurora-like solution similar to Oracle RAC with shared storage architecture.
Key Features
- Shared Storage: Multiple compute nodes sharing the same storage layer
- Read Scaling: Add read replicas without storage duplication
- Fast Recovery: Rapid recovery through shared storage architecture
- Cost Efficiency: Reduced storage costs through sharing
- High Availability: Built-in failover and disaster recovery
Use Cases
- Applications requiring extreme read scalability
- Cost-sensitive deployments needing high availability
- Cloud environments with shared storage infrastructure
- Workloads with variable read/write patterns
Cloud Architecture: Designed for cloud environments with disaggregated compute and storage.
Supabase (Firebase)
Self-host Supabase with existing managed HA PostgreSQL clusters, launching the stateless components with docker-compose for a complete Firebase alternative.
Key Features
- Real-time APIs: Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs
- Real-time Subscriptions: WebSocket-based real-time data sync
- Authentication: Built-in user authentication and authorization
- Storage: File storage with CDN capabilities
- Edge Functions: Serverless functions for custom logic
Use Cases
- Rapid application development with backend-as-a-service
- Real-time applications requiring instant data sync
- JAMstack applications needing serverless backend
- Mobile and web apps requiring authentication and storage
Full Stack: Provides a complete backend solution with PostgreSQL as the foundation.
Greenplum (MPP)
Deploy and monitor Greenplum/YMatrix MPP clusters with Pigsty for large-scale analytical processing and data warehousing.
Key Features
- Massively Parallel Processing: Distribute queries across multiple nodes
- Columnar Storage: Optimized storage for analytical workloads
- Advanced Analytics: Built-in machine learning and statistical functions
- Petabyte Scale: Handle massive datasets with linear scalability
- Standard SQL: Full SQL compliance with PostgreSQL compatibility
Use Cases
- Data warehousing and business intelligence
- Large-scale analytics and reporting
- Machine learning on big datasets
- ETL processing for enterprise data platforms
Enterprise Analytics: Designed for enterprise-scale analytical workloads requiring massive parallel processing capabilities.