Why you should replace PostgreSQL with Git for your next project
Every developer knows the pain of choosing the right database for their project. PostgreSQL offers robust relational features, but what if there was a database you’re already using every day that could handle your data storage needs?
Meet Git – the version control system that’s been hiding its database capabilities in plain sight. Before you close this tab thinking we’ve lost our minds, consider this: Git provides built-in versioning, handles concurrent access, supports atomic transactions (commits), and offers lightning-fast data retrieval. It even comes with its own query language (Git commands) and built-in backup system (distributed repositories).
While this approach isn’t suitable for production applications, exploring Git’s internal architecture reveals fascinating insights into how modern databases work. Let’s build a todo application using Git as our storage layer to understand these core concepts.
Git’s data model: The foundation
Git organizes data using four fundamental types:
Blobs : Raw data storage (equivalent to table rows)
: Raw data storage (equivalent to table rows) Trees : Hierarchical organization (like directory structures)
: Hierarchical organization (like directory structures) Commits : Transaction records with metadata
: Transaction records with metadata References: Pointers to specific data states (like table indexes)
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