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title: We&#x27;re building Postgres in Rust. Using the LLVM of databases
description: Turso, the Rust-based SQLite rewrite, is announcing a new project to build a modern Postgres-compatible database on top of its core engine. The architecture...
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og:description: Turso, the Rust-based SQLite rewrite, is announcing a new project to build a modern Postgres-compatible database on top of its core engine. The architecture...
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# We're building Postgres in Rust. Using the LLVM of databases

**[Lobsters](https://daily.dev/sources/lobsters)** · 12 min read · 20 upvotes · 1 comments

## Summary

Turso, the Rust-based SQLite rewrite, is announcing a new project to build a modern Postgres-compatible database on top of its core engine. The architecture positions Turso as the 'LLVM of databases': a single reliable Rust core (using a VDBE bytecode VM) with multiple SQL frontends — SQLite first, Postgres next. Key differentiators include auto-updating materialized views, MVCC concurrent writes, full async support (runs in browsers via WASM), and deterministic simulation testing. The Postgres frontend is already runnable from source. The project aims for broad Postgres compatibility rather than 100% parity, is MIT-licensed, and is open to community contributions. Extensions may be supported via WASM containers. The team frames this as a multi-year effort prioritizing correctness over speed.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://turso.tech/blog/a-new-modern-version-of-postgres-in-rust>

## Questions this post answers

### Is Turso building a version of Postgres written in Rust?

Yes, Turso announced an official project to build a Postgres-compatible database by compiling Postgres SQL into an abstract syntax tree that is then compiled down to Turso's existing VDBE bytecode engine, the same core used for its Rust rewrite of SQLite. The project grew out of an earlier proof-of-concept called pgmicro, now merged into the main Turso codebase, and can be built from source via cargo run, though no packages are published yet.

_daily.dev surfaces updates like this for developers tracking new options in the Postgres and Rust database ecosystem._

### Does Turso support materialized views that update automatically, unlike standard Postgres?

Yes, Turso's materialized views update live and automatically, unlike Postgres, which requires manually running REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW or faking live behavior with triggers. This self-updating capability is one of several features, alongside MVCC-based concurrent writes and a rich type system, that Turso already supports beyond plain SQLite compatibility.

_developers weighing database features for live-updating views can follow projects like this on daily.dev._

### What is the VDBE in SQLite and Turso, and can it run arbitrary programs like Doom?

VDBE is the internal bytecode virtual machine that SQLite (and Turso, its Rust rewrite) compiles SQL into, using database-specific higher-level operations rather than general-purpose instructions like a JVM or WASM. Turso proved the VDBE is expressive enough to be a general-purpose target by writing a small C-to-VDBE compiler and running Doom as VDBE bytecode inside a browser tab, with each frame produced as a query result row.

_engineers curious about database internals and bytecode VMs can track deep dives like this on daily.dev._

## Community discussion

Top comments from developers on daily.dev.

**@andradei** · 1 upvotes

> that's a lofty goal. curious to see what they pull off.

## Similar posts on daily.dev

- [Deep dive into Turso, the "SQLite rewrite in Rust"](https://daily.dev/posts/deep-dive-into-turso-the-sqlite-rewrite-in-rust--kn9wn7dsd) · Hacker News · 58 upvotes · 6 comments
- [Why We Created Turso, a Rust-Based Rewrite of SQLite](https://daily.dev/posts/why-we-created-turso-a-rust-based-rewrite-of-sqlite-weanb5tiz) · The New Stack · 106 upvotes · 4 comments

---

Tags: [#rust](https://daily.dev/tags/rust), [#postgresql](https://daily.dev/tags/postgresql), [#sqlite](https://daily.dev/tags/sqlite)

[View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/we-re-building-postgres-in-rust-using-the-llvm-of-databases-yohpna7ee)

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