Ask HN: What database does HN use?

[ghd_]

A similar discussion from 2021 that didn't track a lot of attention: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29165586

And the only answer from eesmith cites a very old implementation, I'm wondering what's being used nowadays in the HN code base

[romanhn]

Every discussion I've seen mentions filesystem-based storage rather than any database. Haven't seen any evidence to the contrary.

[chistev]

Would that handle the demand? This is a very busy website.

[lbhdc]

They have a job listing looking for engineers. I have no idea if this role would work on HN or if the tech stack is relevant to HN.

It lists the tech stack as Rails, React, Postgres.

https://www.ycombinator.com/careers?ashby_jid=ef00c8d1-76e7-...

[runjake]

HN is not written in React or Rails. It is written in a LISP dialect called Arc.

https://paulgraham.com/hackernews.html

[clark-kent]

That’s a YC job post not HN.

[purple-leafy]

I think hackernews was originally built with a Lisp language right?!

If so, probably started with a database that you would commonly pair with a Lisp language

[qup]

Arc.

And the filesystem.