DbGate - new generation

This project is a POC of DbGate partial rewrite.
It is now in analysis state, it is not sure, whether this will be realized

Why?

• Code will be more easy to understand for more people
• Simplify build system
  • Easier to develop
  • Much faster builds
• Use newer technology stack
• Ability to create better looking UI

What to change?

• use 100% TypeScript
• use ES modules instead of CommonJS modules
• use modern "native" bundler, eg. esbuild or SWC
• Use solid.js instead of Svelte
  • Svelte 5 completely changed syntax and semantics, currently used syntax in DbGate is already obsolete
  • solid.js has simpler build pipeline (it uses JSX) and better TypeScript support
• Use Tailwind CSS ass CSS toolkit
  • no need to scoped CSS
  • many developers are familiar with this
• Redesign plugin system
  • drop backend plugins, it will became "drivers" and will be not pluggable (file formats and database support)
  • enhance power for "frontend" plugins - now suitable only for color themes

What to keep?

• Layout, functionality
• TS libraries (filterparser, sqltree, tools, datalib)
• Open-source base repo (GPL or MIT) + Premium private repo (synced with diflow)
• Desktop app, Web, Docker and NPM builds
• NPM packages usable without DbGate UI
• Integration tests and cypress UI tests

What to decide? - ideas to be examined

• Use Tauri/Pake instead of Electron (dbgate/dbgate#905)
• Really use solid.js instead of Svelte?
• Really use Tailwind CSS? Or make own CSS classes?
• Open-source repo, premium repo - could be used eg. git submodules instead of diflow merging?
• Use process isolation for database connections?
  • It brings bigger complexity
  • It is very safe, event with buggy database drivers, especially when using mutli-user web app
  • It brings problems with DuckDB, which allows connections only from one process

Roadmap / timeline

• Start discussion
• Create POC, decide about used technologies
• Decide whether to start realization
• Realization - in ideal case more people almost from the beginning
  • Estimate 3-6 months for this main phase

Note about past rewrites

The last rewrite was chaning frontend fromework (ReactJS => Svelte), it took approx. 3 months, 1-2 MD per week

The first version of DbGate was written with .NET Core backend, so the first rewrite was changing backend.

Your feedback is welcome

Please use discussion if you have any comments on this