Comment by nayuki
15 hours ago
Then by your definition, SQLite isn't open-source because it's a code dump with a license, but outsiders are not allowed to participate in shaping (the official copy of) the code.
15 hours ago
Then by your definition, SQLite isn't open-source because it's a code dump with a license, but outsiders are not allowed to participate in shaping (the official copy of) the code.
Not sure if this was your intent, but what WOULD the result be of an AI reimplemented SQLite? They've got some of the best technical documentation in the game; there are lots of directions this could go...
https://kiankyars.github.io/machine_learning/2026/02/12/sqli...
https://blog.katanaquant.com/p/your-llm-doesnt-write-correct...
It can generate plausible code because the examples are already in the training set, the documentation, the how-to-write-a-database, other databases, etc.
But unless you could write SQLite yourself it will be hard to specify a good one and to get the generator to produce a correct implementation.
SQLite is public domain while the code released by id/Carmack is GPL.
The latter technically doesn't prevent anyone making money off it, but in practice it does (other than nominal fees).
That alone is a massive difference.