# DiceDB — Reactive Key-Value Store with Query Subscriptions

> DiceDB is an open-source in-memory key-value database built on Valkey that adds real-time query subscriptions, letting clients watch query results and receive push notifications when data changes.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# DiceDB — Reactive Key-Value Store with Query Subscriptions

## Quick Use
```bash
# Run with Docker
docker run -d -p 7379:7379 dicedb/dicedb:latest
# Connect with any Redis-compatible client
redis-cli -p 7379
SET user:1 "alice"
GET user:1
```

## Introduction
DiceDB is a fork of Valkey (the Redis successor) that adds reactive query subscriptions to the key-value model. Clients can subscribe to query results and receive automatic push notifications when the underlying data changes, eliminating the need for polling.

## What DiceDB Does
- Provides a Redis-compatible in-memory key-value store with sub-millisecond latency
- Supports query subscriptions that push updates when watched data changes
- Implements multi-threaded I/O for higher throughput than single-threaded Redis
- Offers hierarchical storage tiers for managing hot and cold data
- Maintains wire-protocol compatibility with Redis and Valkey clients

## Architecture Overview
DiceDB is written in C and extends the Valkey codebase with a reactive subscription engine. The query subscription system tracks which keys affect each registered query and triggers re-evaluation when those keys are modified. A multi-threaded I/O layer distributes client connections across CPU cores for improved concurrency compared to the traditional single-threaded Redis event loop.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy with Docker using the official DiceDB image on port 7379
- Build from source on Linux or macOS with standard C build tools
- Configure memory limits, persistence, and eviction policies via a config file
- Connect using any Redis-compatible client library in any language
- Monitor performance with built-in INFO and SLOWLOG commands

## Key Features
- Reactive subscriptions push real-time updates to clients without polling
- Redis wire-protocol compatibility means existing tools and libraries work unchanged
- Multi-threaded architecture for better utilization of modern multi-core hardware
- Tiered storage moves cold data to disk while keeping hot data in memory
- Low operational overhead with a single binary and minimal configuration

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Redis / Valkey** — The baseline key-value store; DiceDB adds reactive subscriptions and multi-threaded I/O on top
- **DragonflyDB** — Multi-threaded Redis alternative focused on raw throughput, but no query subscription feature
- **KeyDB** — Multi-threaded Redis fork with active replication, but not actively maintained
- **Garnet** — Microsoft Research cache store in C#, optimized for .NET workloads
- **Apache Ignite** — Distributed in-memory computing platform, much heavier operational footprint

## FAQ
**Q: Is DiceDB compatible with existing Redis clients?**
A: Yes. DiceDB uses the Redis wire protocol, so existing client libraries (redis-py, ioredis, Jedis, etc.) work without changes.

**Q: What are query subscriptions?**
A: Query subscriptions let a client register a query (like GET or filtered key patterns) and receive automatic notifications when the result changes, similar to database triggers but at the client level.

**Q: How does DiceDB compare to Redis in performance?**
A: DiceDB aims for comparable or better throughput than Redis for standard operations, with the multi-threaded I/O layer providing an advantage on multi-core systems.

**Q: What is the license?**
A: DiceDB is licensed under BSD 3-Clause, the same as the original Valkey/Redis license.

## Sources
- https://github.com/dicedb/dicedb
- https://dicedb.io

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/cdbe65fb-3c71-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: Script Depot