#130 - From PhD Research to DuckDB: Building the Next Generation of Analytical DBs with Mark Raasveldt // CTO @ DuckDB

alphalist.CTO Podcast - For CTOs and Technical Leaders

How single-node performance and embedded analytics are revolutionizing database architecture for modern applications

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In this episode, we dive deep into the world of analytical databases with Mark Raasveldt, the co-founder and CTO of DuckDB Labs. Mark takes us through his fascinating journey from academic research to building one of the most talked-about databases in the industry.

We explore:

• How DuckDB emerged from academic research at CWI Amsterdam
• The technical philosophy behind embedded analytical databases
• Why single-node performance still matters in the age of distributed systems
• The challenges of building a database system from the ground up
• Open source business models and the DuckDB Labs approach
• The evolution of columnar data formats and Parquet optimization
• How DuckDB is making high-performance analytics accessible to all developers
• The future of analytical data processing and embedded systems

This conversation offers unique insights into database architecture, performance optimization, and the intersection of academic research and commercial success.