TimescaleDB, a scalable database specializing in time series, is now available after two years – with several beta versions and a first release candidate – the second release candidate (RC). The time series database supports SQL, is based on PostgreSQL as an extension and, in contrast to relational databases, is freely scalable.

It offers a distributed multi -Node architecture which, according to the editors, can store data from time series in the size range of petabytes and process it particularly quickly. For self-managed installations of the software, the RC is ready for production, the final release and roll-out in the services managed by Timescale is planned for the end of the year. The database is available as open source free of charge.

Continuous aggregation via updated APIs According to the announcement in the Timescale blog, the release candidate also provides all enterprise features free of charge and grants users more rights than before. Continuous aggregation of data should be possible via updated APIs and give users more control over the aggregation process. Recently, tasks can apparently be customized and within the database it should be possible to control the individual tasks and behavior during execution more precisely with a schedule. In terms of speed of data processing, the publishers refer to rankings of the relational databases available on the market, in which PostgreSQL is currently in the top 4 and is apparently on a par with MongoDB or is slightly overtaken.

Why a separate database for time series? The database is not about peanuts, but about particularly large data sets, which are often distributed over several servers and nodes the collection of telemetric data are received on an ongoing basis and, for example in the case of financial service providers or scientific projects, can include over a billion data series daily. Production lines in factories, smart home devices, vehicles, the stock market, software stacks, but also private devices, for example in the health sector, continuously produce telemetric data via apps, the classification criterion of which is the time series.

Since the volume of such data series is growing and relational databases are apparently reaching their limits in terms of collection and processing, the Timescale creators launched the project of a specialized database three and a half years ago. Companies as diverse as Bosch, Siemens, Credit Suisse, IBM, Samsung, Walmart, Uber, Microsoft and Warner Music use and support the development, according to the provider. According to the Timescale blog, in addition to the PostgreSQL community and its ecosystem, there is also a developer community that is specifically interested in time series behind the project.

Further information A review of the first release candidate shows that at that time a number of services were still chargeable and that the range has apparently increased: According to the provider, the number of users has increased from back then (2018) one million downloads increased to ten million today. Further information on the second release candidate can be found in the Timescale blog. The blog lists a number of demo videos and offers several download options; the software is available as a Docker image and in other variants. For users who are familiar with TimescaleDB, the changelog should be relevant, the Timescale team has put together an update guide for updating.

(sih )