What is litestream?

Litestream is a tool that keeps your SQLite databases safe by automatically copying their changes to another location, like a backup file or Amazon S3 storage. SQLite is a popular, lightweight database that stores everything in a single file, but it doesn't have built-in replication. This project solves that problem by running quietly in the background, continuously saving your data so you don't lose it if something goes wrong. The tool works by monitoring your database and sending incremental updates, only the changes, not the whole database, either to another file on your machine or to cloud storage. It talks to SQLite through its official API, which means it won't corrupt your database while it's running. This approach is much faster and more efficient than doing full database backups on a schedule. This would appeal to developers running small applications, side projects, or edge deployments where a full database server feels like overkill but you still need reliable backups. For example, if you have a blog or a small SaaS app using SQLite and you want to make sure a server crash doesn't wipe out your users' data, this gives you that safety net without the complexity of setting up a traditional database replication system. The project is currently in beta. While it was originally closed to outside code contributions to reduce maintainer burnout, it now accepts bug fixes from the community, though new features are still not being accepted. The maintainer emphasizes that testing, feedback, and documentation are the most valuable forms of contribution.