Litestream is a standalone disaster recovery tool for SQLite that replicates database changes to another file or S3.
Litestream solves the problem of protecting SQLite databases against data loss by running as a background process that safely replicates changes incrementally to backup destinations. It works by communicating exclusively through the SQLite API, which prevents database corruption. The tool coordinates replication around write-ahead log checkpoints by creating an internal lock table in the source database, using SQLite's native locking mechanism to ensure safe synchronization.
Litestream suits applications that rely on SQLite for persistence and need disaster recovery without the complexity of traditional database replication systems. It works well for single-machine deployments, edge applications, and scenarios where S3 or file-based backups are acceptable recovery targets. The tool is appropriate for developers who want incremental, streaming backups without modifying their application code significantly, though they should be aware that the source database schema will change due to the internal lock table, making byte-for-byte comparison impossible after Litestream is enabled.
The project maintains a security policy that directs vulnerability reports through private channels rather than public issues. The maintainers welcome bug reports, fixes, and patches through a documented contributing guide. The project acknowledges individuals who invest significant time and energy into improving it.
