DuckDB 2.0 preview adds client/server mode and triggers

DuckDB is no longer just an in-process database.

DuckDB creators Mark Raasveldt and Hannes Mühleisen previewed DuckDB v2.0 ("Cyanoptera"), arriving this fall. Packed with over 10,000 commits, the upcoming release ships a new SQL parser, a default storage format, triggers, and a native client/server mode. You can now serve databases over a network and run remote queries across DuckDB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL using the new CONNECT statement.

Why it matters: DuckDB built its reputation as "SQLite for analytics"—a fast database that runs inside your app. By adding a native network protocol and support for transactional triggers, DuckDB can now power multi-tenant, long-running services without giving up its analytical speed.

Know this: The new quack extension lets you attach to a remote instance with ATTACH 'quack:server.example.com' and stream query results back. The update also turns semi-structured JSON-like data faster by default, using automatic structure detection in its updated VARIANT type.

The duck is officially leaving the local process and moving into the server rack.