Alternator
Alternator is a native, drop-in replacement API for Amazon DynamoDB built into ScyllaDB, the high-performance NoSQL database.
Publisher review
Alternator is a native, drop-in replacement API for Amazon DynamoDB built into ScyllaDB, the high-performance NoSQL database. It is designed for teams that want to run DynamoDB applications without being locked into AWS, whether on-premises, in a hybrid cloud, or on a different cloud provider. Alternator allows developers to use the same client SDKs, data models, and queries as DynamoDB, enabling migration without recoding or refactoring. It is particularly suited for organizations experiencing high DynamoDB costs or scaling limitations, as it offers better performance and lower latency at scale, with ScyllaDB's shard-per-core architecture delivering single-digit millisecond response times even under heavy load.
Alternator implements core DynamoDB functionality, including Key Table and Item Operations (PutItem, GetItem, UpdateItem, DeleteItem), Scans, and Filters. It supports all DynamoDB attribute types, including nested documents (maps, lists, sets), and uses the same JSON-based data model. A notable extension is Alternator Vector Search, which enables approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search on numeric vectors stored as item attributes, leveraging ScyllaDB's integrated vector search capabilities without additional drivers. ScyllaDB's hybrid pricing model—combining per-node and per-storage costs—can reduce total cost by 50% or more compared to DynamoDB, as write operations are significantly cheaper. Benchmarks cited by ScyllaDB show DynamoDB can be up to 7x more expensive than compatible alternatives for equivalent performance.
Alternator competes directly with Amazon DynamoDB, as well as with Apache Cassandra, MongoDB, and Redis for NoSQL workloads. Unlike DynamoDB, which is a fully managed AWS service with vendor lock-in, Alternator runs on ScyllaDB, which can be deployed on AWS, GCP, Azure, or on-premises. Compared to Cassandra, ScyllaDB offers a DynamoDB-compatible API, eliminating the need to learn Cassandra Query Language (CQL) or redesign data models. MongoDB is document-oriented but less scalable for extremely high-volume key-value workloads, while Redis is optimized for in-memory caching and not ideal for persistent storage. Alternator's key differentiator is its ability to provide a managed or self-managed DynamoDB experience with lower costs and no vendor lock-in.
The honest trade-offs: Alternator does not implement every DynamoDB feature—some advanced capabilities like DynamoDB Streams, Global Tables (multi-region replication), and Time-to-Live (TTL) are not yet fully supported or require configuration. Setting up ScyllaDB clusters is more complex than using DynamoDB's fully managed service, particularly for teams without DevOps expertise. While Alternator supports the same client SDKs, some DynamoDB-specific behaviors (e.g., auto-scaling policies, DAX caching) are not replicated. Additionally, ScyllaDB's vector search is an extension, not a DynamoDB-native feature, so applications relying on DynamoDB's machine learning integrations may need adjustments.
How it works
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Drop-in DynamoDB compatibility
Alternator implements the DynamoDB API natively, allowing applications written for DynamoDB to run unmodified against ScyllaDB without code changes.
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Core DynamoDB operations
Supports Key Table and Item Operations (PutItem, GetItem, UpdateItem, DeleteItem), Scans, and Filters, matching DynamoDB's core functionality.
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All attribute types supported
Handles all DynamoDB attribute types, including nested documents (maps, lists, sets), enabling flexible data structures.
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Alternator Vector Search
Enables approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search on numeric vectors stored as item attributes, using ScyllaDB's integrated vector search.
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Multi-cloud and on-premises deployment
Run DynamoDB applications on AWS, GCP, Azure, or on-premises, eliminating vendor lock-in and enabling hybrid architectures.
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Same client SDKs and data modeling
Uses identical client SDKs (e.g., AWS SDK for Java, Python, Node.js) and data modeling patterns as DynamoDB, simplifying migration.
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Better performance at scale
ScyllaDB's shard-per-core architecture delivers single-digit millisecond latency and handles over 20 million requests per second per cluster.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Alternator reduces costs by 50% or more compared to DynamoDB, with write operations being significantly cheaper due to ScyllaDB's hybrid pricing model.
- It eliminates vendor lock-in, allowing DynamoDB applications to run on any cloud provider or on-premises without code changes.
- ScyllaDB's shard-per-core architecture delivers single-digit millisecond latency at scale, outperforming DynamoDB for write-heavy workloads.
- Alternator supports all DynamoDB attribute types, including nested documents, and extends functionality with integrated vector search for ANN queries.
Trade-offs
- Some DynamoDB features like Streams, Global Tables, and TTL are not fully implemented or require manual configuration in Alternator.
- Setting up and managing ScyllaDB clusters is more complex than using DynamoDB's fully managed service, requiring DevOps expertise.
- Alternator does not replicate DynamoDB's auto-scaling policies or DAX caching, so teams must handle scaling and caching themselves.
- The vector search feature is a ScyllaDB extension, not a DynamoDB-native capability, so applications relying on DynamoDB's ML integrations may need adjustments.
Pricing context
ScyllaDB offers a hybrid pricing model combining per-node and per-storage costs. Teams typically see 50% or greater cost reductions compared to DynamoDB. ScyllaDB Cloud provides a free tier and usage-based pricing; on-premises deployments use a subscription model. No exact dollar figures are publicly listed for all tiers.
Getting started with Alternator
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Sign up for ScyllaDB Cloud
Go to the ScyllaDB Cloud website and create an account. Choose a free tier or a paid plan based on your expected workload. After registration, verify your email and log in to the dashboard.
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Create a ScyllaDB cluster
In the ScyllaDB Cloud dashboard, click "Create Cluster". Select a cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Azure) and region. Enable the Alternator API toggle during cluster configuration. Set the desired node count and storage size, then launch the cluster.
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Connect using DynamoDB SDK
Install the AWS SDK for your programming language (e.g., boto3 for Python). Configure the SDK with the endpoint URL of your ScyllaDB cluster (found in the dashboard) and dummy AWS credentials (Alternator ignores them). Use the same DynamoDB client code as before.
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Create a table and insert data
Use the DynamoDB CreateTable API to define a table with a partition key and optional sort key. Then call PutItem to insert a sample item with attributes like strings, numbers, or nested maps. Verify the item appears using GetItem.
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Run a query and monitor performance
Execute a Query or Scan operation on your table using the same SDK methods. Monitor latency and throughput in the ScyllaDB Cloud metrics dashboard. Adjust node count or storage if performance does not meet your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alternator in ScyllaDB?
Alternator is a native, drop-in replacement API for Amazon DynamoDB built into ScyllaDB. It allows you to run DynamoDB applications on any cloud or on-premises without code changes, using the same client SDKs and data models.
How does Alternator reduce costs compared to DynamoDB?
Alternator can reduce total cost by 50% or more compared to DynamoDB. ScyllaDB's hybrid pricing model combines per-node and per-storage costs, making write operations significantly cheaper. Benchmarks show DynamoDB can be up to 7x more expensive for equivalent performance.
What DynamoDB features does Alternator support?
Alternator supports core DynamoDB operations like PutItem, GetItem, UpdateItem, DeleteItem, Scans, and Filters. It handles all attribute types including nested documents. However, advanced features like DynamoDB Streams, Global Tables, and TTL are not fully implemented yet.
Can I use Alternator for vector search?
Yes, Alternator includes Alternator Vector Search, which enables approximate nearest neighbor search on numeric vectors stored as item attributes. This is a ScyllaDB extension, not a DynamoDB-native feature, so applications relying on DynamoDB's ML integrations may need adjustments.
How does Alternator compare to DynamoDB in performance?
Alternator offers single-digit millisecond latency at scale, outperforming DynamoDB for write-heavy workloads. ScyllaDB's shard-per-core architecture handles over 20 million requests per second per cluster, delivering better performance and lower latency even under heavy load.
What are the trade-offs of using Alternator instead of DynamoDB?
Alternator lacks full support for DynamoDB Streams, Global Tables, and TTL. Setting up ScyllaDB clusters requires more DevOps expertise than DynamoDB's fully managed service. Auto-scaling policies and DAX caching are not replicated, so teams must handle scaling and caching themselves.
Alternatives
How Alternator compares
Direct head-to-head against 2 competitors. Picked by 7wData.
Alternator
- Pricing
- ScyllaDB offers a hybrid pricing model combining per-node and per-storage costs. Teams typically see 50% or greater cost reductions compared to DynamoDB. ScyllaDB Cloud provides a free tier and usage-based pricing; on-premises deployments use a subscription model. No exact dollar figures are publicly listed for all tiers.
- Target
- Alternator is a native, drop-in replacement API for Amazon DynamoDB built into ScyllaDB, the high-performance NoSQL database.
- Strength
- Alternator reduces costs by 50% or more compared to DynamoDB, with write operations being significantly cheaper due to ScyllaDB's hybrid pricing model.
- Watch for
- Some DynamoDB features like Streams, Global Tables, and TTL are not fully implemented or require manual configuration in Alternator.
CarParts.com
- Pricing
- $80-$220 direct
- Target
- DIY auto repair
- Deployment
- Direct ship
- Strength
- Largest online inventory
- Watch for
- Core charge process
RockAuto
- Pricing
- $81-$139 + core
- Target
- Mechanics
- Deployment
- Mail-order
- Strength
- OEM-grade remanufactured
- Watch for
- Return shipping costs
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