DuckDB

DuckDB is an in-process, single-node analytical SQL database with columnar storage. It runs in memory or on disk and can spill data that is larger than memory. It is used from Python, R, Java and other clients, and it also runs in browsers through WebAssembly. DuckDB was created by Dr Mark Raasveldt and Dr Hannes Muhleisen at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam. The DuckDB Foundation holds the intellectual property, while DuckDB Labs provides commercial support and employs core contributors. The software is released under the MIT licence and is free to use. Because it is embedded rather than a server, it is run inside the application process, though it can also be self-managed. A managed cloud service built on DuckDB is available from MotherDuck, which is a separate company from DuckDB Labs and the foundation. The latest release is v1.5.6, published on 28 September 2026. Buyers who need a vendor to stand behind the engine can arrange support through DuckDB Labs, whereas those who want a hosted service should look at MotherDuck and its own terms. No licence change, end-of-support notice or dormant status was found.