#168168th of 173 in Backends, databases and hosting
gel
Graph-relational database with object types and the EdgeQL query language
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- Stars
- 14.2k
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Last commit
- Dec 2025
- Last release
- Nov 2025
- Language
- Python
Missed the latest GitHub check; these facts may be older.
Overview
Gel is a database that models data as object types with properties and links instead of tables and foreign keys. Queries are written in EdgeQL, which returns nested objects rather than flat rows. It ships with a migrations system, a CLI, client libraries in several languages, and an optional managed cloud service.
Who it is for: Developers wanting a typed, object-based alternative to SQL databases and ORMs
Strengths
- EdgeQL returns nested objects, so related data is fetched without JOINs
- Composable queries allow subqueries and nested mutations
- Built-in migrations system, CLI and client libraries in multiple languages
- Schema supports constraints, indexes, computed properties, link properties and mixins
Weaknesses
- Requires learning EdgeQL and its schema language instead of SQL
- No Docker or compose setup described in the README
- README quickstart still uses the legacy `edgedb` CLI command
- Managed hosting is a separate cloud service
What it needs
- no GPU
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