Eiffel SQLite 2025

Modern SQLite 3.51.1 wrapper for Eiffel with FTS5, JSON1, and advanced features.

A production-ready SQLite binding for Eiffel applications, designed to work seamlessly with the simple_sql high-level API library.

Why This Library?

The standard Eiffel SQLite library uses SQLite 3.31.1 (x86) with limited features. This library provides:

Feature	Standard Library	eiffel_sqlite_2025
SQLite Version	3.31.1	3.51.1
Architecture	x86 (32-bit)	x64 (64-bit)
FTS5 Full-Text Search	No	Yes
JSON1 Extension	No	Yes
RTREE Spatial Index	No	Yes
GEOPOLY	No	Yes
Math Functions	No	Yes
Runtime Linking	/MD (dynamic)	/MT (static)

Features

SQLite Extensions Enabled

• FTS5: Full-text search with BM25 ranking, Boolean queries, phrase matching
• JSON1: JSON functions (json_extract, json_set, json_array, etc.)
• RTREE: Spatial indexing for geographic/geometric data
• GEOPOLY: Geographic polygon queries and operations
• Math Functions: sin, cos, tan, log, exp, sqrt, etc.
• Column Metadata: Enhanced schema introspection

Technical Specifications

• SQLite Version: 3.51.1 (November 2025)
• Architecture: x64 native (64-bit Windows)
• Runtime: Static linking (/MT) - no DLL dependencies
• Thread Safety: SQLITE_THREADSAFE=1
• Compatibility: EiffelStudio 25.02+, Gobo Eiffel (gobo-25.09+)

For complete compile flag documentation, see COMPILE_FLAGS.md.

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Integration with simple_sql

This library serves as the foundation for simple_sql, a high-level SQLite API for Eiffel. Together they provide:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      YOUR APPLICATION                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                        simple_sql                            │
│  • Fluent query builders    • Repository pattern            │
│  • Schema migrations        • Audit/change tracking         │
│  • FTS5 full-text search    • JSON1 operations              │
│  • BLOB handling            • Result streaming              │
│  • 250 tests, 100% coverage                                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                    eiffel_sqlite_2025                        │
│  • SQLite 3.51.1 C binding  • x64 native                    │
│  • FTS5, JSON1, RTREE       • Static runtime                │
│  • Eiffel external API      • Gobo compatible               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                     SQLite 3.51.1                            │
│              (Public Domain, embedded)                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Using with simple_sql

1. Clone both repositories:

   git clone https://github.com/ljr1981/eiffel_sqlite_2025.git
   git clone https://github.com/ljr1981/simple_sql.git

2. Set environment variable (adjust path to your clone location):

   set EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025=C:\path\to\eiffel_sqlite_2025

3. Build the C library (see Build Instructions below)

4. Add simple_sql to your project - it automatically references eiffel_sqlite_2025

Using Standalone

If you only need the low-level SQLite binding:

<library name="sqlite_2025" location="$EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025\sqlite_2025.ecf"/>

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Build Instructions

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio 2022 (or 2019+) with C++ Build Tools
• x64 Native Tools Command Prompt
• Environment variable: EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025 pointing to your clone location

Option 1: Using Makefile (Recommended)

For EiffelStudio users:

:: Open "x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2022"
set EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025=C:\path\to\eiffel_sqlite_2025
cd %EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025%\Clib
nmake /f Makefile

Output: spec\msvc\win64\lib\sqlite_2025.lib

Option 2: Manual Build

For Gobo Eiffel or custom configurations:

:: Open "x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2022"
cd %EIFFEL_SQLITE_2025%\Clib

:: Compile SQLite with all extensions
cl /c /O2 /MT ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_FTS5 ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_JSON1 ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_RTREE ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_GEOPOLY ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_MATH_FUNCTIONS ^
   /DSQLITE_ENABLE_COLUMN_METADATA ^
   /DSQLITE_THREADSAFE=1 ^
   sqlite3.c

:: Compile Eiffel wrapper (adjust include path)
:: For EiffelStudio:
cl /c /O2 /MT /I"%ISE_EIFFEL%\studio\spec\win64\include" /I. esqlite.c

:: For Gobo Eiffel:
cl /c /O2 /MT /I"D:\prod\gobo-gobo-25.09\tool\gec\backend\c\runtime" /I. esqlite.c

:: Create library
lib /OUT:sqlite_2025.lib sqlite3.obj esqlite.obj

Build Notes

Flag	Purpose
/MT	Static runtime linking (required for Eiffel compatibility)
/O2	Optimization level 2
SQLITE_ENABLE_FTS5	Full-text search
SQLITE_THREADSAFE=1	Thread-safe mode

Important: Do NOT use /MD (dynamic runtime) - it causes linker errors with Eiffel projects.

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Verification

After building, verify the extensions are enabled:

-- In your Eiffel code or via simple_sql:
result := db.query ("PRAGMA compile_options")
across result.rows as ic loop
    print (ic.string_value ("compile_option"))
end

Expected output should include:

• ENABLE_FTS5
• ENABLE_JSON1
• ENABLE_RTREE
• THREADSAFE=1

Test with simple_sql

The simple_sql library includes 250 tests that exercise this library:

cd D:\prod\simple_sql
:: Build and run tests in EiffelStudio

All 250 tests should pass.

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Directory Structure

eiffel_sqlite_2025/
├── Clib/                    C source and build files
│   ├── sqlite3.c            SQLite 3.51.1 amalgamation (~240,000 lines)
│   ├── sqlite3.h            SQLite public header
│   ├── esqlite.c            Eiffel-to-C wrapper implementation
│   ├── esqlite.h            Wrapper header (with EIF_NATURAL compatibility)
│   └── Makefile             nmake build file
├── binding/                 Eiffel external declarations
│   └── sqlite_externals.e   External "C" feature bindings
├── support/                 Eiffel helper classes
│   ├── sqlite_database.e    Database connection class
│   ├── sqlite_statement.e   Prepared statement class
│   └── ...                  Other support classes
├── spec/                    Compiled libraries (not in git)
│   └── msvc/win64/lib/      Output location for sqlite_2025.lib
├── sqlite_2025.ecf          ECF library configuration
├── README.md                This file
├── CHANGELOG.md             Version history
├── COMPILE_FLAGS.md         SQLite compile flag documentation
└── LICENSE                  MIT License

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Version History

v1.0.0 (November 30, 2025)

• New: SQLite 3.51.1 (upgraded from 3.31.1)
• New: x64 architecture (upgraded from x86)
• New: FTS5, JSON1, RTREE, GEOPOLY, Math Functions enabled
• New: EIF_NATURAL compatibility for Gobo Eiffel
• Fixed: Static runtime linking (/MT) for Eiffel compatibility
• Verified: 250 tests passing with simple_sql

See CHANGELOG.md for full history.

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Compatibility

Tested With

Component	Version
SQLite	3.51.1
Visual Studio	2022 (MSVC 19.44)
Windows	10/11 x64
EiffelStudio	25.02 Standard
Gobo Eiffel	gobo-25.09
simple_sql	0.8 (250 tests passing)

Gobo Eiffel Notes

The esqlite.h header includes an EIF_NATURAL compatibility macro:

#ifndef EIF_NATURAL
#define EIF_NATURAL EIF_NATURAL_32
#endif

This ensures compatibility with both EiffelStudio and Gobo Eiffel runtimes.

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License

MIT License - see LICENSE file.

SQLite itself is in the Public Domain.

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Related Projects

• simple_sql - High-level SQLite API built on this library
  • Fluent query builders
  • Repository pattern
  • Schema migrations
  • FTS5 full-text search wrapper
  • JSON1 operations
  • Audit/change tracking
  • 250 tests, 100% coverage

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Contributing

1. Do not commit .obj files or compiled libraries (in .gitignore)
2. Update README.md and CHANGELOG.md for significant changes
3. Test with both EiffelStudio and Gobo Eiffel if possible
4. Run the full simple_sql test suite (250 tests should pass)
5. Update COMPILE_FLAGS.md if modifying SQLite compilation flags

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Support

For issues with:

• This library (eiffel_sqlite_2025): SQLite binding, C compilation, linking
• simple_sql: High-level API, query builders, migrations, FTS5 wrapper

Both projects developed with AI-assisted development using Claude (Anthropic).

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Built for the Eiffel ecosystem. Production-ready. Battle-tested with 250 tests.