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apache/couchdb

6,876Erlang
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TLDR

Apache CouchDB is a database system that stores data as JSON documents and exposes everything through a standard HTTP API.

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In plain English

Apache CouchDB is a database system that stores data as JSON documents and exposes everything through a standard HTTP API. JSON is the text format widely used across the web for exchanging data, and HTTP is the same protocol browsers use to load websites. This means you can interact with CouchDB using ordinary web tools and requests, without a special client library. The defining characteristic of CouchDB is its sync capability. Multiple copies of the database, running on different servers or devices, can each accept writes independently and then synchronize their changes with each other. The database is designed to handle conflicts that arise when the same data is changed in two places at once, making it suitable for applications that need to work offline or across distributed locations. CouchDB is written in Erlang, a programming language built for reliable, concurrent systems. It ships with a browser-based administration interface called Fauxton, which you access at a local web address after starting the server. Installation instructions for Unix-like systems and Windows are provided in separate files in the repository. A development environment can be started quickly using a preconfigured container setup in VS Code, or manually by installing dependencies and running a configure and make sequence. The README is brief and points to the project's full documentation site for detailed guidance. The project is part of the Apache Software Foundation and supported by several commercial sponsors. Full documentation, a changelog, and community mailing lists are available on the project website.

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