March 17, 2020
FairCom’s Low-level API gives complete control to database developers
Total control makes predictable, extreme performance possible
Control is defined as the ability to “determine the behavior of.” In database development, the level of control a developer has determines the predictability and performance of a database. As a general rule, the more control the developer has, the faster and more predictable the performance of the database.

Because of the total control it provides to developers, the FairCom DB multimodel database has been referred to by some of our customers as “the developer’s database.” One of the avenues for achieving total control is the simple and easy-to-use Low-level API in FairCom DB for C and C++ developers, which gives direct control over each byte in each data and index file. This is something very few (if any) other databases give you.
With the control provided by the Faircom DB Low-level API:
- You can read, write, process and index binary data without limitations at extreme velocity
- You can manually populate indexes with any value for fast data navigation and SQL queries
- You can create your own data types and index them any way you desire
- You can directly store and index complex, nested binary data in a record
The Low-level API enables extremely fast database operations because it keeps all data at the binary level, eliminates all conversion layers and gives the developer full algorithmic control over navigating records for data processing.
Another important overarching benefit of this API is that you can conform the FairCom DB to work your way, instead of you adjusting your tasks to work within the limitations of less capable databases.
FairCom customers who use FairCom DB love its low total cost of ownership (TCO), low hardware requirements and predictable performance. They often compare it to other databases and comment how its total control compares favorably with fast databases (such as NoSQL databases like Cassandra®[1] and Couchbase®[2], as well as SQL databases like Oracle DBMS®[3], SQL Server®[4] and DB2®[5].)
For example, FairCom DB’s Low-level API allows you to directly store and index binary data. It is compatible with any binary data format, such as MongoDB®[6] BSON, Apache AVRO™[7], Google[8]’s protocol buffers and message-pack. These formats are used in high-velocity microservices because they are highly compact and quickly serialized.
The Low-level API is ideal for high-speed microservices because it stores binary data directly in its database records without the overhead of deserializing. Further, it can index binary data without requiring it to be transformed into a native database storage format. This reduces developer work, increases database performance and requires fewer hardware resources. As a bonus, FairCom DB’s built-in data replication makes it a breeze to build distributed microservices and microservices that share common data.
It is important to note that FairCom DB is not like other databases. It does not store binary data in generic, opaque BLOBs with inconvenient APIs. Its Low-level API is very simple, and it stores and indexes all records in the exact binary form you deliver to it. It does not convert it.
Binary data is a first-class citizen in all FairCom DB APIs and indexes. Forty years of tuning has made it extremely fast and efficient. No other database gives you comparable speed because no other database gives you comparable control over storing, indexing and retrieving binary data.
At this point, it must also be pointed out that due to the multimodel nature of FairCom DB: FairCom DB makes it possible for you to leverage standard SQL over proprietary binary data. It allows you to write transform code that runs on the fly to convert your binary format into a tabular format.
The Low-level API is just one example of why FairCom DB is ideal for large-scale, mission-critical, core-business applications that require performance, reliability and scalability that cannot be achieved by other databases.
Additional information about the predictable development and other features of the FairCom DB multimodel database are available here.
[1] Apache, Apache Avro and Cassandra are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and other countries.
[2] Couchbase is a registered trademark of Couchbase Inc.
[3] Oracle is a registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
[4] SQL Server is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
[5] DB2 is a registered trademark of IBM in the United States and other countries.
[6] MongoDB is a registered trademark of MongoDB Inc.
[7] Apache, Apache Avro and Cassandra are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and other countries.
[8] Google is a registered trademark of Google LLC.