explaingit

shimohq/shmdatabase

Analysis updated 2026-08-14 · repo last pushed 2020-07-01

Objective-CAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · easy

TLDR

A lightweight iOS library that lets app developers store, search, update, and delete data on the device itself. You interact with normal data objects and the library handles all the database plumbing behind the scenes.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((SHMDatabase))
    What it does
      Local data storage
      Create read update delete
      Auto creates tables
      Assigns unique IDs
    Key features
      No special base classes
      Handles arrays and images
      Batch roll back safely
      One line schema upgrades
    Use cases
      Offline note app
      Save user profiles
      Cache data locally
    Tech stack
      Objective-C
      iOS
      Local database
    Audience
      iOS developers
      Mobile app teams

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build an offline note-taking app that saves drafts directly on the phone.

USE CASE 2

Store and retrieve user profiles locally so the app works without a network connection.

USE CASE 3

Save complex data like arrays and images on-device without writing raw database code.

USE CASE 4

Add new fields to existing data models with a single line of code when your app grows.

What is it built with?

Objective-CiOSSQLite

How does it compare?

shimohq/shmdatabaseadispring/mapios8aonez/microsoftsurfacemacaudiofix
LanguageObjective-CObjective-CObjective-C
Last pushed2020-07-012014-12-112024-11-28
MaintenanceDormantDormantStale
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Requires an iOS project and basic familiarity with Objective-C, but no external infrastructure or API keys are needed.

In plain English

SHMDatabase is a tool that helps iOS app developers save and manage data on the device itself, rather than relying entirely on a remote server. It acts as a bridge between an app and its local storage, allowing developers to quickly set up a database without getting bogged down in the underlying technical details. In everyday terms, it lets developers take a piece of information, like a user's profile or a saved document, and easily store it, find it later, update it, or delete it. The framework automatically handles the messy plumbing: it creates the database tables, assigns unique ID numbers to each entry, and tracks when an item was created or updated. Developers simply interact with their normal data objects, and the framework translates those actions into the database commands needed to save them. This tool is built for iOS developers who want a fast, lightweight way to handle local data. For example, a team building a note-taking app like the one this framework was originally built for could use it to save drafts offline. When a user creates or edits a note, the app calls a simple save command. The framework handles storing that note securely on the phone, and if the developer later needs to add a new "tags" field to their notes, they can upgrade the database with a single line of code. A notable design choice is that it requires no special base classes, meaning developers can attach it to existing code without forcing a major rewrite. It also handles complex data easily, like storing arrays or images, and ensures that batch operations either fully succeed or roll back safely if something goes wrong. This makes it a practical choice for developers who want reliable local storage without writing tedious, repetitive database code.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Show me how to integrate SHMDatabase into my existing iOS app to save and retrieve a user profile object locally without writing SQL.
Prompt 2
Help me use SHMDatabase to batch-save an array of note objects and safely roll back if any save fails.
Prompt 3
Walk me through upgrading my SHMDatabase schema to add a new tags field to my existing note model with one line of code.
Prompt 4
Explain how to store and retrieve images locally using SHMDatabase in my iOS app.

Frequently asked questions

What is shmdatabase?

A lightweight iOS library that lets app developers store, search, update, and delete data on the device itself. You interact with normal data objects and the library handles all the database plumbing behind the scenes.

What language is shmdatabase written in?

Mainly Objective-C. The stack also includes Objective-C, iOS, SQLite.

Is shmdatabase actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2020-07-01).

How hard is shmdatabase to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is shmdatabase for?

Mainly developer.

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