As a middle ground, we could implement a solution for the bottom tier: small to medium sites and blogs. These sites don’t necessarily need a full-fledged MySQL database.
SQLite seems to be the perfect fit:
- It is the most widely used database worldwide
- It is cross-platform and can run on any device
- It is included by default on all PHP installations (unless explicitly disabled)
- WordPress’s minimum requirements would be a simple PHP server, without the need for a separate database server.
- SQLite support enables lower hosting costs, decreases energy consumption, and lowers performance costs on lower-end servers.
What would the benefits of SQLite be?
Officially supporting SQLite in WordPress could have many benefits. Some notable ones would include:
- Increased performance on lower-end servers and environments.
- Potential for WordPress growth in markets where we did not have access due to the system’s requirements.
- Potential for growth in the hosting market using installation “scenarios”.
- Reduced energy consumption – increased sustainability for the WordPress project.
- Further WordPress’s mission to “democratize publishing” for everyone.
- Easier to contribute to WordPress – download the files and run the built-in PHP server without any other setup required.
- Easier to use automated tests suite.
- Sites can be “portable” and self-contained.
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