etcd vs FoundationDB
etcd: Raft-based, strongly consistent key-value store that holds Kubernetes' cluster state. FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top.
key differences
- FoundationDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than etcd (≤ 100 GB).
- Horizontal scaling is none in etcd and native in FoundationDB.
- Only etcd has ttl / expiry, role-based access, time travel.
- Only FoundationDB has encryption at rest.
choose etcd for
- +Kubernetes and control-plane state
- +Service discovery and dynamic configuration
- +Distributed locks and leader election
- +Feature flags and small metadata for infrastructure
best at · Coordination, Metadata, Pub/Sub
choose foundationdb for
- +Metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores)
- +Foundation for custom databases and layers
- +Multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer
- +Transactional queues and job systems
best at · OLTP, Metadata, Queue
etcd vs FoundationDB: FAQ
What is the difference between etcd and FoundationDB?
etcd: Raft-based, strongly consistent key-value store that holds Kubernetes' cluster state. FoundationDB: Apple's ordered, strictly serializable distributed key-value store, built to have layers on top. FoundationDB is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than etcd (≤ 100 GB). Horizontal scaling is none in etcd and native in FoundationDB. Only etcd has ttl / expiry, role-based access, time travel.
When should I choose etcd over FoundationDB?
Choose etcd for kubernetes and control-plane state; service discovery and dynamic configuration; and distributed locks and leader election. Choose FoundationDB for metadata stores for larger systems (catalogs, object stores); foundation for custom databases and layers; and multi-tenant app backends via the Record Layer.
Is etcd or FoundationDB more popular?
FoundationDB ranks #54 on the WhichDB Score (36.8/100) and etcd ranks #71 (32.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are etcd and FoundationDB open source?
Yes. etcd is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Yes. FoundationDB is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.