Gel

Gel is an open source database layer that runs on top of Postgres. It adds a typed schema, a graph style query language and tools for working with the database during development.

Gel lets developers describe data as object types with links, instead of plain tables and joins. Queries can be written in its own language or in SQL, and client libraries give type safe access from TypeScript and Python. The CLI sets up a local development environment that can later be deployed to a cloud service.

• Typed schema with object types and links
• Graph style queries alongside SQL
• Local development with a command line tool
• Built in login with OAuth, magic links and passkeys
• Vector store with automatic embeddings

Application developers who want a typed data model and less SQL boilerplate, especially in TypeScript or Python projects. Teams already comfortable with Postgres can use Gel as a layer on top of it.

Gel is fully open source under the Apache 2.0 licence, and it can export data to plain Postgres when needed. It is also offered as a cloud service with encryption at rest and backups. Check that the features you need match the tools you already use before moving a project onto it.