ScyllaDB Alternator

ScyllaDB Alternator is a DynamoDB-compatible API layer for ScyllaDB, designed for organizations running DynamoDB applications who want to avoid AWS vendor lock-in.

Reviewed by 7wData
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ScyllaDB Alternator is a DynamoDB-compatible API layer for ScyllaDB, designed for organizations running DynamoDB applications who want to avoid AWS vendor lock-in. It allows existing DynamoDB applications to run unchanged on ScyllaDB across any cloud, bare metal, or hybrid environments. The solution converts DynamoDB API calls into native ScyllaDB operations, supporting key table operations, scans, filters, and even approximate nearest neighbor search on numeric vectors without requiring changes to client SDKs or data models.

Alternator implements core DynamoDB functionality while delivering better performance and lower latency at scale. Benchmark tests show 5X to 40X lower costs compared to DynamoDB in realistic workloads, with up to 4X better P99 latency. The system handles global tables without expensive add-ons and supports heavy event streaming workloads without external caches. Users can deploy on ScyllaDB Cloud or on-premises with on-demand pricing that undercuts DynamoDB's provisioned throughput model.

Compared to Amazon DynamoDB, Alternator offers greater deployment flexibility and cost efficiency, though it doesn't implement every DynamoDB feature. It competes with other NoSQL databases like Cassandra and MongoDB by providing a drop-in replacement for DynamoDB workloads. The solution particularly appeals to SaaS vendors needing on-premise deployment options and enterprises seeking to reduce cloud database costs.

The trade-offs include some DynamoDB features not being fully implemented and requiring configuration choices for write isolation policies. While Alternator supports most common DynamoDB operations, applications using niche DynamoDB capabilities may need adjustments. The system provides four write isolation options with different performance characteristics that administrators must select during setup.

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How it works

  1. DynamoDB API compatibility

    Supports DynamoDB client SDKs, data models, and queries without modification, converting API calls to ScyllaDB operations

  2. Multi-cloud deployment

    Runs DynamoDB applications on any cloud provider, bare metal, or hybrid environments with the same API

  3. Approximate nearest neighbor search

    Supports ANN search on numeric vectors, a capability beyond standard DynamoDB functionality

  4. Global table support

    Handles globally distributed tables without requiring separate expensive options like DynamoDB

  5. Event streaming capacity

    Processes heavy event streaming workloads without needing expensive external caching layers

  6. Write isolation policies

    Offers four configurable write isolation options with different performance and consistency trade-offs

  7. On-demand pricing

    Provides significantly lower costs than DynamoDB's provisioned throughput model in most scenarios

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

  • Benchmarks show 5X to 40X lower costs than DynamoDB for equivalent workloads with on-demand pricing.
  • Delivers up to 4X better P99 latency compared to DynamoDB in performance tests at scale.
  • Eliminates AWS dependency while maintaining compatibility with existing DynamoDB applications and tools.
  • Supports global tables and heavy streaming workloads without requiring expensive add-ons or external caches.

Trade-offs

  • Not all DynamoDB features are implemented, which may require application adjustments for some use cases.
  • Requires administrators to choose among four write isolation policies during setup, adding configuration complexity.
  • Limited write isolation options compared to DynamoDB's more granular consistency controls.
  • Automatic snapshots of deleted tables consume disk space by default unless specifically disabled.

Pricing context

On-demand pricing model significantly lower than DynamoDB's provisioned throughput costs in most scenarios

Getting started with ScyllaDB Alternator

  1. Install ScyllaDB

    Download and install ScyllaDB on your preferred infrastructure (cloud, bare metal, or hybrid) following the official installation guide for your operating system.

  2. Enable Alternator API

    Configure ScyllaDB to enable the Alternator API by setting the alternator_port and alternator_enforce_authorization parameters in your ScyllaDB configuration file.

  3. Connect DynamoDB client

    Point your existing DynamoDB client applications to the ScyllaDB Alternator endpoint using your preferred SDK without modifying application code.

  4. Configure tables

    Create tables using DynamoDB API calls or migrate existing tables, selecting appropriate write isolation policies for each table based on your consistency needs.

  5. Monitor performance

    Use ScyllaDB monitoring tools to track performance metrics and adjust configurations as needed for optimal throughput and latency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ScyllaDB Alternator?

ScyllaDB Alternator is a DynamoDB-compatible API layer for ScyllaDB, enabling existing DynamoDB applications to run unchanged across any cloud or on-premises environment. It converts DynamoDB API calls into native ScyllaDB operations, supporting key functionalities without requiring changes to client SDKs or data models.

How does ScyllaDB Alternator compare to DynamoDB?

ScyllaDB Alternator offers greater deployment flexibility and cost efficiency than DynamoDB, with benchmarks showing 5X to 40X lower costs and up to 4X better latency. However, it doesn’t implement every DynamoDB feature, which may require adjustments for niche use cases.

What are the cost benefits of using ScyllaDB Alternator?

ScyllaDB Alternator’s on-demand pricing model significantly reduces costs compared to DynamoDB’s provisioned throughput. Benchmark tests show it can be 5X to 40X cheaper for equivalent workloads, making it an attractive option for enterprises seeking to lower cloud database expenses.

Can ScyllaDB Alternator run in multi-cloud environments?

Yes, ScyllaDB Alternator supports multi-cloud, bare metal, and hybrid deployments. It allows DynamoDB applications to run unchanged across any environment, providing flexibility for organizations looking to avoid vendor lock-in and optimize their infrastructure.

What are the trade-offs of using ScyllaDB Alternator?

While ScyllaDB Alternator supports most DynamoDB operations, it doesn’t implement every feature, potentially requiring application adjustments. Administrators must also configure write isolation policies, adding complexity compared to DynamoDB’s more granular consistency controls.

What write isolation options does ScyllaDB Alternator offer?

ScyllaDB Alternator provides four write isolation policies with different performance and consistency trade-offs. Administrators must choose the appropriate policy during setup, balancing latency and consistency based on their application’s requirements.

Alternatives

How ScyllaDB Alternator compares

Direct head-to-head against 2 competitors. Picked by 7wData.

This tool

ScyllaDB Alternator

Pricing
On-demand pricing model significantly lower than DynamoDB's provisioned throughput costs in most scenarios
Target
ScyllaDB Alternator is a DynamoDB-compatible API layer for ScyllaDB, designed for organizations running DynamoDB applications who want to avoid AWS vendor lock-in.
Strength
Benchmarks show 5X to 40X lower costs than DynamoDB for equivalent workloads with on-demand pricing.
Watch for
Not all DynamoDB features are implemented, which may require application adjustments for some use cases.

Amazon DynamoDB

Pricing
Pay-per-request: $1.25/million writes, $0.25/million reads. Provisioned: $0.00065/RCU-hr, $0.00013/WCU-hr
Target
AWS-native apps needing fully managed NoSQL
Deployment
AWS only
Strength
Seamless AWS integration, fully managed
Watch for
Cost spikes at scale, no on-prem option

Apache Cassandra

Pricing
Free open-source. Managed services $0.10-$0.50/GB-month
Target
Multi-cloud/on-prem deployments
Deployment
Self-hosted or managed
Strength
Proven at petabyte scale, flexible deployment
Watch for
Operational overhead, steep learning curve

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Sources

Reporting on this tool draws on these publicly available sources.

  1. www.reddit.com
  2. www.scylladb.com
  3. docs.scylladb.com
  4. www.scylladb.com