Should I use better-sqlite3 over Node 22 core sqlite module?

[shadowusr]

There's new core module in Node 22.5 for working with sqlite. I wonder what's better to use. Having less dependencies is definitely attractive, but I wonder how it compares to better-sqlite3 in terms of performance (most importantly!) and features (although we only use very basic features).

[mceachen]

Please read the prior discussions here: #1234

[falnos24865]

I retract below. It took me a while to figure it out, but it was a 3rd party (that uses better-sqlite3) had an update tool that was broken, and tried to use the wrong better-sqlite3 version for Node 22.

---

Given that better-sqlite3 refuses to support Node 22, you are better off using the core sqlite module

[mceachen]

@falnos24865 I don't know where you came to that conclusion, but better-sqlite3 supports all current versions of Node.js (which will include Node v22 until EOL). Every build is validated against every supported version of Node.

(I'm running Node 22.15.1 and all my project's better-sqlite3 tests run fine, FWIW)

Another thing to consider: Node's experimental sqlite package requires a command-line switch to enable it currently, and recommends against production use. That said, I saw they added support for a couple neat new features of SQLite, like Sessions and change logs!

[falnos24865]

On Linux? I have tried on multiple distros of Linux from Ubuntu to Arch and better-sqlite3 never has binaries available and fails the build process on all.

[mceachen]

Check the releases page: there are more than 150 prebuilds at this point. Current Alpine (musl) and Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora (glibc) should "just work." EOL Ubuntu like 18 will not. I'm on Ubuntu 24.04 FWIW.

Check the build.yml GitHub action to see how we set up the compiler toolchain. From personal experience, python in particular can be persnickety and easy to foul the works.

Maybe something here will invoke an "aha" and help. This is in a brand new directory:

$ cd /tmp/test
$ npm init
$ npm add better-sqlite3
$ grep better package.json 
    "better-sqlite3": "^11.10.0"
$ find node_modules/ -name \*.node
node_modules/better-sqlite3/build/Release/better_sqlite3.node
$ cat /etc/lsb-release 
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=24.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=noble
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS"

$ node
Welcome to Node.js v22.15.1.
Type ".help" for more information.
> const test = require("better-sqlite3")("test.db");
undefined
> test.exec("CREATE TABLE A(id)");
Database {
  name: 'test.db',
  open: true,
  inTransaction: false,
  readonly: false,
  memory: false
}
> test.prepare("insert into A(id) values(42)").run();
{ changes: 1, lastInsertRowid: 1 }
> test.prepare("select * from A").all();
[ { id: 42 } ]
>