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Guide · Open source

How to use db_tutorial: build a simple database in C

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

db_tutorial is an MIT-licensed written tutorial by cstack that shows how to write a simple SQLite-style database from scratch in C. It is a learning resource, not installable software. This guide explains how to get the material, what you need before you start, and what you should expect to learn from it.

Let's Build a Simple Databasecstack/db_tutorial · ★ 10.5k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Read the rendered tutorial. Open https://cstack.github.io/db_tutorial in your browser to read the full tutorial and its background.
  2. 2Check your C background. Make sure you are comfortable reading and writing C before you start, since the whole tutorial is written in C.
  3. 3Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/cstack/db_tutorial to get the source files.
  4. 4Install Ruby and Bundler if needed. Only do this if you want to run the site locally.
  5. 5Serve the site locally. From the cloned folder, run bundle exec jekyll serve to view the tutorial on your own machine.
  6. 6Work through the chapters. Follow the tutorial step by step, building the simple database as you go.

What is db_tutorial?

db_tutorial is a step-by-step guide to building a simple database from scratch in C, modeled loosely on SQLite. The README is short and points to a rendered website at cstack.github.io/db_tutorial, where the full tutorial lives.

The project is useful for understanding how a database stores and retrieves data at a basic level. It is a teaching project and the README does not claim it is suitable for real workloads.

Who should use db_tutorial?

The tutorial fits best if you want to see how a simple database works internally, already know some C, or learn best by building something step by step.

  • Students who want to see how a simple database works internally
  • Developers who already know some C and want a hands-on project
  • Readers who learn best by building something step by step

What you need before you start

The tutorial is written in C, so you should be comfortable reading C code. To run the tutorial site locally you also need a C compiler, Ruby and Bundler. You only need Ruby and Bundler if you want to run the site on your own machine.

  • A C compiler
  • Ruby and Bundler (only if you want to run the tutorial site locally)
  • Some prior C experience

Read the tutorial online or clone the repository

The simplest way to use db_tutorial is to open the rendered tutorial in your browser at https://cstack.github.io/db_tutorial. To get the source files, clone the repository with the command below.

git clone https://github.com/cstack/db_tutorial

Run the tutorial site locally

If you want to run the tutorial site on your own machine, the README gives one command to serve it with Jekyll. This requires Ruby and Bundler to be installed first.

bundle exec jekyll serve

What db_tutorial does not do

db_tutorial is not a production database and it is not installable software. The README describes a tutorial, not a packaged tool. If you need a database for real applications, a mature option such as SQLite is a better fit.

  • Not for production databases
  • Not a packaged or installable tool
  • Not for readers without C experience

What people use it for

  • Learning how a simple database stores and retrieves data
  • Practising C by building a small, working project
  • Studying the internals of a database before reading SQLite's codebase
  • Using the tutorial as material for a class or self-study group

Frequently asked questions

Is db_tutorial free and open source?

Yes. db_tutorial is released under the MIT licence, and its language is C. The README does not list a price because the project is a free written tutorial.

How do I install db_tutorial?

You do not install it as software. Clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/cstack/db_tutorial, or read the tutorial at https://cstack.github.io/db_tutorial. Ruby and Bundler are only needed to run the site locally.

What do I need to run db_tutorial?

You need a C compiler to follow the tutorial's code. Ruby and Bundler are only needed if you want to run the tutorial site locally with bundle exec jekyll serve.

Can I use db_tutorial for a production database?

No. The README describes this as a teaching project and does not claim it is suitable for real workloads. For production use, choose a mature database such as SQLite.

What are alternatives to db_tutorial?

SQLite is the project the tutorial is loosely modeled on. Other build-your-own-database tutorials by different authors also exist and cover similar ground.

Do I need to know C to use this tutorial?

Yes, the tutorial is written in C. Readers with no C experience will find it hard to follow, so learn the basics first.

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Our verdict

db_tutorial is a good choice for students and C developers who want to understand how a simple database works by building one step by step. It is not a production database or installable software, so people who need a working database should pick something like SQLite instead.

Install options & downloads