Chronicle Map vs LMDB
Chronicle Map: Off-heap, memory-mapped key-value store for Java with microsecond latency and cross-process sharing. LMDB: Tiny memory-mapped B+tree with ACID transactions and lock-free readers; reached 1.0 in 2026.
key differences
- Transactions: Chronicle Map offers limited ACID; LMDB offers full.
- Only Chronicle Map has in-memory.
- Only LMDB has transactions.
choose chronicle-map for
- +Low-latency reference data and order-book state in trading systems
- +Sharing state between JVM processes on one host
- +Large off-heap caches that survive restarts
best at · Cache, Tick data, Embedded
choose lmdb for
- +Read-heavy embedded indexes and caches
- +Directory services (OpenLDAP back-mdb)
- +Blockchain and wallet state
- +ML dataset storage with fast random reads
best at · Embedded, Metadata, Local-first
Chronicle Map vs LMDB: FAQ
What is the difference between Chronicle Map and LMDB?
Chronicle Map: Off-heap, memory-mapped key-value store for Java with microsecond latency and cross-process sharing. LMDB: Tiny memory-mapped B+tree with ACID transactions and lock-free readers; reached 1.0 in 2026. Transactions: Chronicle Map offers limited ACID; LMDB offers full. Only Chronicle Map has in-memory. Only LMDB has transactions.
When should I choose Chronicle Map over LMDB?
Choose Chronicle Map for low-latency reference data and order-book state in trading systems; sharing state between JVM processes on one host; and large off-heap caches that survive restarts. Choose LMDB for read-heavy embedded indexes and caches; directory services (OpenLDAP back-mdb); and blockchain and wallet state.
Is Chronicle Map or LMDB more popular?
LMDB ranks #47 on the WhichDB Score (39.7/100) and Chronicle Map ranks #321 (8.7/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are Chronicle Map and LMDB open source?
Yes. Chronicle Map is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Yes. LMDB is open source. License: OpenLDAP Public License 2.8.