SMRTR ProgrammingOct 21, 2025Hacker News

Build Your Own Database

SMRTR summary

Building a key-value database starts with storing data in files, but simple file updates are inefficient because they require moving all subsequent data. Using append-only files with duplicate key handling and tombstone deletions solves this, while adding in-memory indices and sorted segments creates the LSM tree structure powering major databases like DynamoDB.

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