Does Bichon need a database?
No. The full-text index, compressed blob storage and metadata store are all embedded, so one container or binary is enough.
Bichon, Our pick: Rust Email Archiver with WebUI
Download mail from your IMAP accounts into one searchable email archiver that runs as a single Rust binary or container with no external database.
Compare with similar apps
How Bichon stacks up against other backup apps. Add or remove apps to change the comparison.
| Requirement | Bichon | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free |
| Storage support | Local | Local, S3 | – |
| Deduplication | Yes | Yes | – |
| Web UI | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Architecture | x86 + ARM | x86 + ARM | x86 + ARM |
| Min hardware | Not stated | 4 GB RAM | Not stated |
| Containers | 1The app alone | Worth checking: 5Plus Postgres, Valkey, Meilisearch, Tika | 2Plus Postgres |
| Database | file only | Postgres | Postgres |
| Runtime | Rust | Node | .NET |
| Docker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Linux package | Yes | – | – |
| Windows | Yes | – | – |
| macOS | Yes | – | – |
Common questions
Can I keep Bichon's data on an NFS or SMB share?
No. Keep every Bichon directory on a local filesystem such as ext4 or XFS, because network filesystems can corrupt the data. Put the index on an SSD and the blob storage on a bigger HDD if you can.
Can Bichon send or reply to email?
No. Bichon is an archiver, not an email client. Its optional embedded SMTP server only receives mail.
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