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GemStone/S vs ObjectDB

GemStone/S: Smalltalk object database where application code runs inside the transactional object repository. ObjectDB: Commercial object database for Java that implements JPA and JDO natively, with no ORM layer.

key differences

  • GemStone/S is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than ObjectDB (≤ 100 GB).
  • Only GemStone/S has stored procedures, online schema changes.
  • Only ObjectDB has joins.
  • ObjectDB can run embedded in your application process.

choose gemstone-s for

  • +Long-lived Smalltalk business systems in finance and logistics
  • +Seaside web applications (GLASS stack)

best at · OLTP

choose objectdb for

  • +Java desktop applications with complex object models
  • +JPA-based apps that want to avoid Hibernate tuning
  • +Embedded storage in Java tools

best at · Embedded, OLTP

GemStone/SSmalltalk object database where application code runs inside the transactional object repository.
ObjectDBCommercial object database for Java that implements JPA and JDO natively, with no ORM layer.
overview
Primary model
Object
Object
Also supports
–
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
GemTalk Systems
ObjectDB Software
First release
1986
2003
Latest version
3.7.6 (Aug 2026)
2.9.5 (Mar 2, 2026)
License
ProprietaryCommercial; free Community licence
ProprietaryObjectDB Licence (free edition with limits; commercial)
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
6.1
9.3
Rank
#368
#315
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
–
105
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
None
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Shared storage
Embedded, Client server
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
GemStone Smalltalk
JPQL, JDOQL
Client languages
Smalltalk, C, Java
Java
Best for
OLTP
Embedded, OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

GemStone/S vs ObjectDB: FAQ

What is the difference between GemStone/S and ObjectDB?

GemStone/S: Smalltalk object database where application code runs inside the transactional object repository. ObjectDB: Commercial object database for Java that implements JPA and JDO natively, with no ORM layer. GemStone/S is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than ObjectDB (≤ 100 GB). Only GemStone/S has stored procedures, online schema changes. Only ObjectDB has joins.

When should I choose GemStone/S over ObjectDB?

Choose GemStone/S for long-lived Smalltalk business systems in finance and logistics; and seaside web applications (GLASS stack). Choose ObjectDB for java desktop applications with complex object models, JPA-based apps that want to avoid Hibernate tuning and embedded storage in Java tools.

Is GemStone/S or ObjectDB more popular?

ObjectDB ranks #315 on the WhichDB Score (9.3/100) and GemStone/S ranks #368 (6.1/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are GemStone/S and ObjectDB open source?

No. GemStone/S is proprietary, closed-source software. License: Commercial; free Community licence. No. ObjectDB is proprietary, closed-source software. License: ObjectDB Licence (free edition with limits; commercial).