TL;DR
BoltCache is an open-source in-memory cache written in Go that implements Redis-like features while offering a RESTful HTTP interface and a TCP server. The project advertises higher throughput and lower latency than Redis in its internal benchmarks and includes persistence, clustering, Pub/Sub and token-based security.
What happened
A new open-source project called BoltCache, authored by Alper Mutlu Toksöz, proposes a Redis-compatible in-memory cache implemented in Go. The repository presents a feature set that mirrors many Redis capabilities — strings, lists, sets, hashes, Pub/Sub with WebSocket support, Lua scripting, TTLs and master-slave clustering — while adding a RESTful HTTP/JSON API alongside a TCP/RESP interface. The project claims performance advantages in benchmarks (e.g., higher SET/GET throughput, lower latency and smaller memory footprint compared with Redis) and outlines a lock-free storage engine using sync.Map, JSON-based persistence, YAML configuration and token-based authentication with rate limiting. The repo includes Docker and Kubernetes deployment examples, testing utilities, a web client, and documentation such as API and configuration guides. The codebase is released under the MIT License and lists CLI make targets for running, testing and building the server.
Why it matters
- Offers a modern HTTP/JSON interface in addition to a TCP/RESP protocol, simplifying integration with web-native tooling.
- Claims higher throughput and lower latency versus Redis in the provided benchmarks, which could matter for latency-sensitive services.
- Includes persistence, clustering and security primitives that are important for production caches and distributed systems.
- Built in Go with lock-free structures and concurrency tuning options, which may appeal to teams seeking Go-native alternatives to C-based systems.
Key facts
- Implementation language: Go; core storage uses a lock-free sync.Map design.
- Protocols supported: RESTful HTTP/JSON API and a TCP/RESP-compatible server (default ports shown: REST 8090, TCP 6380).
- Data types and features: String, List, Set, Hash, TTL expiration, Pub/Sub (WebSocket subscribe), and Lua scripting.
- Persistence: JSON-based disk storage with configurable backup/interval settings.
- Clustering: Master-slave replication and high-availability modes are documented.
- Security: Token-based authentication supported via headers, query params, and optional rate limiting.
- Benchmarks published in the repo show higher SET/GET ops/sec, lower latency and smaller memory use compared with Redis (e.g., SET 180k ops/s vs 120k ops/s).
- Distribution and deployment: Repository contains Dockerfile, docker-compose examples and Kubernetes manifests; project is MIT licensed.
What to watch next
- Real-world production adoption and long-term stability — not confirmed in the source
- Independent benchmarks and security audits to validate the project's performance and safety claims — not confirmed in the source
- Compatibility with existing Redis clients and ecosystems beyond the included TCP/RESP surface — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- In-memory cache: A data store that keeps data primarily in RAM to deliver low-latency read and write access.
- RESTful API: An HTTP-based interface that uses standard verbs and JSON payloads to interact with a service.
- Pub/Sub: A messaging pattern where publishers send messages to channels that subscribers receive asynchronously.
- TTL (time to live): A per-key expiration setting that causes automatic removal of entries after a specified interval.
- RESP: Redis Serialization Protocol, the TCP protocol used by Redis clients to communicate with Redis-compatible servers.
Reader FAQ
Who created BoltCache?
The repository lists Alper Mutlu Toksöz as the creator and the GitHub account 'wutlu'.
Does BoltCache support Redis commands and clients?
The project advertises Redis-like functionality and a TCP/RESP server, but full compatibility with all Redis clients is not confirmed in the source.
What deployment options are provided?
Repository includes Docker, docker-compose and Kubernetes manifests for deployment.
Is BoltCache production-ready?
not confirmed in the source
BoltCache 🚀 High-performance, Redis-compatible in-memory cache with RESTful API BoltCache is a modern, fast, and scalable in-memory cache system built in Go. It provides Redis-like functionality with better performance, RESTful…
Sources
- Redis vs. BoltCache
- Use the REST API | Docs
- Redis / Memcached ReST caching for an external service
- 🌐 Golang RESTful API with Gin, Gorm, Redis Cache 💾
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