Redis is an open-source, in-memory data structure store used as a database, cache, and message broker. It offers a rich set of data types and advanced features like vector search, full-text search, and time-series data handling, making it suitable for real-time data-driven applications.

How It Works

Redis operates as an in-memory key-value store, prioritizing speed and low latency. It supports a wide array of data structures (strings, lists, sets, hashes, sorted sets, JSON, streams, etc.) and offers advanced capabilities through modules like Redis Stack, enabling features such as secondary indexing, geospatial queries, and vector search. Its architecture allows for persistence, replication, and clustering for high availability and scalability.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: Binary distributions are available via Docker, snap, brew, RPM, and APT. Source compilation instructions are provided for Linux and macOS.
• Prerequisites: Building from source may require specific GCC versions (e.g., GCC 10 on Ubuntu 20.04), CMake, Python 3, and potentially Rust for certain modules. Specific OS dependencies are detailed for Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and macOS.
• Resources: Detailed build instructions are provided for various OS versions.
• Docs: redis.io/docs

Highlighted Details

• Supports advanced querying with Redis Query Engine for vector, full-text, and geospatial searches.
• Offers robust stream processing capabilities for message brokering and event handling.
• Integrates with AI/ML workflows for vector storage and RAG applications.
• Provides Redis Insight for a visual user experience and Redis Copilot for AI-assisted command usage.

Maintenance & Community

Redis is actively maintained by Redis Ltd. and a community of contributors. More information can be found on their GitHub repository and official website.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: Versions 7.2.x and prior: BSDv3. Versions 7.4.x to 7.8.x: RSALv2 or SSPLv1. Version 8.0.x and later: RSALv2, SSPLv1, or AGPLv3 (at user's option).
• Compatibility: The choice of license (especially RSALv2/SSPLv1/AGPLv3 for newer versions) may have implications for commercial or closed-source use.

Limitations & Caveats

The licensing for recent versions (RSALv2/SSPLv1/AGPLv3) requires careful review for commercial adoption, as it differs from the older BSDv3 license. Building with all modules requires specific dependencies and build flags.