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Alex Spinov
Alex Spinov

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SurrealDB Has a Free Multi-Model Database That Replaces Your Entire Backend Stack

SurrealDB is a multi-model database — document, graph, key-value, and time-series in one. It includes auth, permissions, real-time queries, and a built-in API.

What You Get for Free

  • Multi-model — documents, graph, KV, time-series
  • SurrealQL — SQL-like with graph traversal
  • Built-in auth — JWT, scopes, record-level permissions
  • Real-time — live queries via WebSocket
  • REST + WebSocket API — no backend needed
  • Embedded or server — use as library or service
  • Single binary — Rust, no dependencies

Quick Start

surreal start --user root --pass root memory
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SurrealQL

-- Create records
CREATE user SET name = 'Alice', email = 'alice@example.com';

-- Graph relations
RELATE user:alice->follows->user:bob;

-- Traverse graph
SELECT ->follows->user.name FROM user:alice;

-- Live query
LIVE SELECT * FROM user;
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SurrealDB vs MongoDB + Neo4j

Feature SurrealDB MongoDB + Neo4j
Models All-in-one Separate DBs
Graph Built-in Neo4j needed
Auth Built-in External
Query SurrealQL MQL + Cypher

Need database architecture? Check my work on GitHub or email spinov001@gmail.com for consulting.

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