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Saved February 14, 2026
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SpiceDB is an open-source authorization tool inspired by Google's Zanzibar system. It allows developers to define schemas and relationships for access control, answering questions like "can subject X perform action Y on resource Z?" SpiceDB supports various datastores and can be self-hosted or used as a managed service.
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SpiceDB is an open-source authorization system inspired by Google's Zanzibar, designed to handle complex access control for various applications. It allows teams to define permissions through a schema, much like a relational database, and supports intricate queries such as checking if a user can perform a specific action on a resource. The system is built for scalability and efficiency, boasting a 5ms p95 response time even at high volumes, making it suitable for use in large organizations and diverse environments.
The project prioritizes flexibility, enabling integration with multiple identity providers while focusing solely on authorization. SpiceDB supports various data stores, including Google Cloud Spanner and PostgreSQL, and is available for deployment in multiple formats, such as Docker containers and Kubernetes. Users can write schemas and relationships through client libraries, APIs, or a hosted Playground, which offers examples to facilitate understanding.
Several well-known companies, including IBM and Red Hat, have adopted SpiceDB, underscoring its practical application across different sectors. Installation is straightforward, with detailed instructions for various operating systems and environments. SpiceDB also collects anonymous telemetry data to improve the system based on community usage patterns, ensuring ongoing development aligned with user needs.
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