SQLite Configuration

Connection string examples and configuration for SQLite databases.

SQLite is perfect for development, testing, and small-scale applications. It requires no separate database server and stores data in a single file.

Connection String Examples

File-Based Database

json

{
  "AppSettings": {
    "DatabaseContext": "Data Source=AuthScape.db"
  }
}

Full Path

json

{
  "AppSettings": {
    "DatabaseContext": "Data Source=C:\\Data\\AuthScape.db"
  }
}

In-Memory Database

json

{
  "AppSettings": {
    "DatabaseContext": "Data Source=:memory:"
  }
}

Shared In-Memory (Multiple Connections)

json

{
  "AppSettings": {
    "DatabaseContext": "Data Source=AuthScape;Mode=Memory;Cache=Shared"
  }
}

Connection String Parameters

Parameter	Description	Example
`Data Source`	File path or `:memory:`	`AuthScape.db`, `:memory:`
`Mode`	Open mode	`ReadWriteCreate`, `ReadWrite`, `ReadOnly`, `Memory`
`Cache`	Cache sharing mode	`Default`, `Shared`, `Private`
`Password`	Encryption password	`mypassword`

Use Cases

Development

SQLite is ideal for local development:

No database server required
Fast setup
Easy to reset (just delete the file)
Works offline

Testing

Use in-memory SQLite for fast unit tests:

csharp

services.AddAuthScapeDatabase("Data Source=:memory:");

Small Applications

Suitable for:

Prototypes and demos
Single-user applications
Embedded systems
Mobile backends with low traffic

Limitations

SQLite has some limitations compared to SQL Server or PostgreSQL:

Concurrency: Limited write concurrency
No network access: File must be local
No stored procedures: Limited SQL features
Size limits: Practical limit around 1TB

Best Practices

Don't use for production with high concurrency
Use full paths to avoid file location issues
Backup regularly - it's just a file
Use WAL mode for better concurrency:

json

"Data Source=AuthScape.db;Pooling=True;Mode=ReadWriteCreate"

Database File Location

By default, relative paths are relative to the application's working directory. For ASP.NET Core apps, this is typically the project root in development.

csharp

// Get the full path programmatically
var dbPath = Path.Combine(
    Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData),
    "AuthScape",
    "data.db"
);

Migrations

SQLite migrations work the same as other providers:

bash

# Generate migration
dotnet ef migrations add InitialCreate

# Apply to database
dotnet ef database update

The database file will be created automatically if it doesn't exist.