Self-host firebolt-core
v5.0.0-pre.0.20261025203222.b00c195f2eafHigh-performance analytical database for self-hosted use
- Stars
- 256
- CPU
- amd64 CPU supporting at least SSE 4.2, or arm64 CPU
- RAM
- At least 16 GB of RAM recommended
- Storage
- At least 25 GB of SSD space recommended
- Ports
- 3473 (HTTP query API endpoint), 1717 (Multi-node inter-node communication), 3434 (Multi-node inter-node communication), 5678 (Multi-node inter-node communication), 6500 (Multi-node inter-node communication), 8122 (Multi-node inter-node communication), 16000 (Multi-node inter-node communication)
- Requires
- S3-compatible Object Storage
ghcr.io/firebolt-db/engineWhat is firebolt-core?
Firebolt Core is a free analytical database for self-hosted deployment. It uses PostgreSQL-compatible SQL with analytical extensions, handles Apache Iceberg tables and Parquet files on object storage like S3, GCS, Azure Blob, or MinIO, and scales from a laptop to hundreds of Kubernetes nodes. The engine employs a custom format for real-time workloads and Iceberg/Parquet for batch, delivers ACID transactions with snapshot isolation, and bundles a web UI plus CLI for query execution. Connectivity options include PostgreSQL wire protocol, ADBC, JSON REST, and JDBC. Authentication works with built-in passwords or OIDC. The codebase is licensed under Elastic License 2.0, a source-available license not approved by OSI.
Should you self-host firebolt-core?
firebolt-core scores 44/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #32 of 38 in Databases. It has 256 GitHub stars.
It shipped 6 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v4.31.13-0.20260424104720.5698ca5339fc, came out on 24 April 2026. New versions land roughly every 3 weeks.
Setup is advanced: plan for several services and some ongoing maintenance. An official Docker image is available. It is Other-licensed and written mostly in Shell.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Druid (75/100, 14 096 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See firebolt-core vs Druid side by side.
Features
- ACID Transactions
- Aggregating indexes
- AI/ML integration
- Apache Iceberg support
- CLI Client
- Distributed query execution
- Multi-node clustering
- Parquet file format support
- Result caching (FireCache)
- Vector search (HNSW)
- Web UI
firebolt-core README
FAQ
What AI capabilities does Firebolt support?
Firebolt supports calling LLMs from SQL with AI_QUERY and AWS_BEDROCK_AI_QUERY, generating embeddings with AI_EMBED_TEXT, native vector search with HNSW indexes, and connecting to AI assistants via MCP server.
How does Firebolt handle high concurrency?
Engines scale for concurrency by adding clusters automatically using MIN_CLUSTERS and MAX_CLUSTERS settings, with new clusters starting cold and warming up gradually.
Does Firebolt support vector search?
Yes, Firebolt provides generally available vector search with HNSW indexes on embedding columns, queried via the VECTOR_SEARCH table function.
Can I run Firebolt on-premise?
Yes, self-managed Firebolt deploys via Helm chart, Kubernetes Operator, or standalone binaries, and managed-table storage can target S3-compatible object stores like MinIO.
What is Firebolt Core?
Firebolt Core is the free-forever self-hosted edition of Firebolt with no usage limits, shipped as a single Docker image from GitHub.
Can I run Firebolt myself?
Yes, Firebolt offers four deployment models: single binary for laptop scale, Helm chart, Kubernetes Operator for production, and a fully managed service.
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