Unlocking the Power of Decentralized Databases with OrbitDB

Distributed Databases and the Role of OrbitDB

Distributed databases, like OrbitDB, can be easily replicated and duplicated across multiple locations or regions. Data is stored in independent systems, ensuring data homogeneity and uniformity. OrbitDB utilizes libp2p, a network protocol, to sync database updates from multiple peers. Additionally, it employs conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs), allowing peers to update replicas concurrently without coordination.

The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and OrbitDB

OrbitDB leverages IPFS, a protocol for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. IPFS uses content addressing, giving each resource a unique identifier, enabling multiple peers to respond to data requests simultaneously. This architecture ensures improved performance and verifiable data.

Decentralized Applications (DApps) and Access Control

In decentralized systems, access control is crucial. OrbitDB allows peers to define a set of public keys when creating a database, enabling multiple peers to update the database simultaneously. This access control layer ensures that data remains secure and available.

Getting Started with OrbitDB

To begin using OrbitDB, you’ll need Node.js and npm installed on your development machine. OrbitDB encompasses a range of technologies, including IPFS pub/sub for data storage and syncing. Peers or nodes in the network store only the data they need, along with metadata for the next node, enabling users to hold a portion of the overall data and serve files by their respective addresses.

Installation and Setup

To install OrbitDB, you’ll need to have IPFS installed. You can do this by running:

npm install ipfs

Once installed, create an Orbit instance by calling the createInstance() method, passing the IPFS instance as an argument:

const orbitdb = require('orbit-db');
const ipfs = require('ipfs');

const instance = orbitdb.createInstance(ipfs);

Supported Data Models and Database Types

OrbitDB supports various database types, including:

• log
• feed
• doc
• keyvalue
• counter

Each store has its own API methods for creating, deleting, retrieving, and updating data. You can also add custom database types using the addDatabaseType API method.

Working with OrbitDB in Practice

To interact with different databases, you’ll need to create an OrbitDB instance and specify the database type. You can then use the exposed API methods to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) actions. For example, in a keyvalue database, you can use the put method to update a value:

const db = instance.keyvalue('mydatabase');

db.put('key', 'value', (err, result) => {
  if (err) console.error(err);
  else console.log(result);
});