A truly Open Source MongoDB alternative, built on Postgres
FerretDB allows you to use MongoDB drivers seamlessly with PostgreSQL as the database backend. Use all tools, drivers, UIs, and the same query language and stay open-source.
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Our Vision
Our vision is to enable the open source community and developers to reap the benefits of easy-to-use document databases while staying away from vendor lock-in and fauxpen licenses.
Our Values
We are open-source advocates at heart, and we release FerretDB with an open source license recognized by the Open Source Initiative. We are Maintainer-level supporters of the OSI.
Our Solution
The core of our solution is a stateless proxy, which converts MongoDB protocol queries to SQL, and uses PostgreSQL as a database engine. This will be compatible with MongoDB drivers, and should work as a drop-in replacement to MongoDB in many cases.
Learn more about us from our documentation
Understanding FerretDB
FerretDB turns PostgreSQL or SQLite into a MongoDB-compatible document database. FerretDB uses the same commands, drivers, and tools as those of MongoDB.
> Learn more
Installing FerretDB
We provide three Docker images for various deployments: "all-in-one" for quick testing and experiments, a development image for debugging problems, and a production image for all other cases. > Learn more
We develop FerretDB in the public
Read our blog:
We are a community
FerretDB is an open source project developed by a remote-first core team with the backing of thousands of community members.
Join the community either as a contributor or a core team member!
Our Services
We offer a wide range of services for those who want to adopt FerretDB to their needs.
Product Support
We provide customized support on our product to continuously deliver new value during your database journey to drive innovation with open-source software.
Product Development
We help you to develop custom features for our product so you can solve specific problems with your enterprise architecture.
Consulting
We offer consulting and training services for enterprise developer teams. Knowledge is power, and we empower you to use our product to its farthest extent.
Try FerretDB
Leverage the power of the MongoDB ecosystem. Use all tools and drivers you would with MongoDB.
FAQ
Did FerretDB fork PostgreSQL?
No, we did not modify Postgres in any way. It runs in a separate process, and FerretDB connects to it as a client.
Did FerretDB fork MongoDB?
No. Forking MongoDB would be an enormous undertaking, and the fork would still have the same licensing issues, and it would be difficult to maintain. Instead, we built FerretDB as a proxy, which operates between the MongoDB drivers and a database backend, such as Postgres.
Are there dedicated tools for FerretDB?
FerretDB is designed to be transparent; e.g., it mimics the behavior of MongoDB in every possible way. This means that the document database can be managed by tools designed for MongoDB, such as MongoDB Compass, Studio 3T, MingoUI, or the like. The underlying Postgres database can also be managed by tools built for Postgres.
Is FerretDB 100% compatible with MongoDB?
No. It is not necessary, nor feasible, to implement every single MongoDB feature out there. We aim to cover the core feature set of MongoDB and then continue adding features that could enhance the experience or increase application compatibility.
Are there performance implications?
Inevitably, implementing a document database on a relational database will mean that there will be differences in performance compared to a native document database. Your specific workload should be tested with FerretDB before deciding to migrate.
Why ferret?
There is a long-standing connection between open source data products and animals. Think Slonik, the Postgres elephant. The MySQL dolphin. Hadoop, the yellow elephant. The MariaDB seal. CockroachDB! “To ferret out” means to find something after careful searching. Also, ferrets are fun!
