Basebase

Basebase is an open-source software project that provides a unified data access layer across multiple database backends. It enables applications to query and manipulate data stored in relational databases, document stores, and file-based sources through a single, consistent API. The goal is to reduce the complexity of building data-rich applications that rely on diverse storage technologies.

The architecture centers on a core engine, an adapter registry, and a query planner. Adapters translate a common, SQL-like query representation into backend-specific dialects, while a result-merging layer assembles results from different stores into a unified response. A caching layer and data transformers improve performance and compatibility across backends. Clients can interact via HTTP-based APIs and language-specific SDKs for popular languages.

Key features include support for basic CRUD operations, data federation for cross-store queries, and configurable schema and type mapping to align fields across stores. Basebase also provides tooling for lightweight migrations and a project-style structure to organize data access definitions. The design emphasizes safety by preserving per-backend transactional guarantees and clearly indicating when cross-store operations are not atomic.

History and status: Basebase originated within an open-source community of contributors aiming to simplify multi-database development. It remains actively maintained with periodic releases and ongoing contributions. The ecosystem includes documentation, example projects, and integration guides, with adoption concentrated among teams that need federated data access rather than replacing specialized data stores.