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4D vs Valentina Server

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Valentina Server: Paradigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers.

key differences

  • Only 4D has full-text search, json, triggers, stored procedures, role-based access.
  • 4D can run embedded in your application process.

choose 4d for

  • +Vertical ISV business applications for SMBs
  • +Desktop client/server apps on mixed Mac and Windows fleets
  • +Internal line-of-business tools with REST integrations

best at · OLTP, Embedded

choose valentina-server for

  • +ISVs shipping a database and reporting server with their app
  • +Serving DuckDB or SQLite files to networked clients
  • +Xojo desktop and web applications

best at · OLTP, OLAP, Embedded

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
Valentina ServerParadigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
Object
Type
Backend platform
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
Paradigma Software
First release
1987
2001
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
18.2.1 (Sep 29, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryCommercial
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
1.5
Rank
#261
#545
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
115
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Embedded
Client server, Single node
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
–
capabilities
Transactions
✓
✓
Joins
✓
✓
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
✓
—
Vector search
—
—
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
✓
—
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
✓
—
Stored procedures
✓
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
—
—
Encryption at rest
✓
✓
Role-based access
✓
—
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
—
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
4D language, ORDA queries, SQL
SQL
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
Xojo
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP, OLAP, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

4D vs Valentina Server: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and Valentina Server?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Valentina Server: Paradigma Software's multi-engine server: ValentinaDB, DuckDB and SQLite plus report and form servers. Only 4D has full-text search, json, triggers, stored procedures, role-based access. 4D can run embedded in your application process.

When should I choose 4D over Valentina Server?

Choose 4D for vertical ISV business applications for SMBs; desktop client/server apps on mixed Mac and Windows fleets; and internal line-of-business tools with REST integrations. Choose Valentina Server for ISVs shipping a database and reporting server with their app; serving DuckDB or SQLite files to networked clients; and xojo desktop and web applications.

Is 4D or Valentina Server more popular?

4D ranks #261 on the WhichDB Score (12.8/100) and Valentina Server ranks #545 (1.5/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and Valentina Server open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Valentina Server is proprietary, closed-source software. License: Commercial.