California-based Couchbase has announced an edge-ready data platform to help mobile developers and edge architects build native applications in the cloud, at the edge, and on mobile and IoT devices using their language, frameworks and platform of choice.

Called Couchbase Mobile 3, it is an embedded document database for mobile, desktop and custom embedded hardware with built in synchronisation capabilities. With Mobile 3’s strengthened edge capabilities, development teams can focus on the core competency of their applications without worrying about speed and connectivity issues.

“Customers increasingly require mobile and edge capabilities to meet modern application demands and data must always be available so the app always performs at unmatched speed,” said Wayne Carter, vice president of engineering at Couchbase. “With Couchbase Mobile 3, we have simplified development and management of complex data synchronisation tasks. Our first of its kind, modern embedded database allows customers to easily build dynamic applications from the cloud to the edge, while leveraging their existing skills and code.”

Applications that rely solely on centralised cloud data centres for processing and storing data are subject to latency and downtime whenever internet connectivity is slow or frequently interrupted. Requirements for high availability and sub-second response times are nearly impossible – or unfeasibly expensive – to meet with only cloud computing.

Mobile 3’s edge computing capabilities address these issues by moving data and compute closer to where it is being used, even while in motion, making applications faster and more resilient by eliminating dependencies on distant cloud data centres.

With offline-first capabilities for applications, it ensures data integrity by automatically synchronising data across the entirety of an organisation’s edge and mobile infrastructure, with or without internet connectivity. This means organisations across industries can quickly and easily develop and deploy applications that meet the requirements for stringent governance and security, while enabling users to retain a first-class experience with applications that are always on and always fast.

“Couchbase Lite’s C-API support is critical for us,” said Gregory St Clair, software architect, at Arthrex. “We use it to embed Couchbase in all our Synergy systems to have a universal platform across all of our devices. The ability to configure Sync Gateway in hundreds of hospitals all over the world through a nice Rest interface gives us a critical ability to quickly and easily manage those individual deployments. It is another much appreciated feature.”

Another modern application example made possible by Couchbase is an airline that can digitise its pre-flight check process by embedding Mobile 3 onto tablets for recording inspections. Data are then synchronised to other crew tablets in real time, even when devices are disconnected, improving accuracy and safety while ensuring on-time departure.

Mobile 3 delivers a single, universal platform that enables mobile developers to manage global deployments easily and seamlessly, leading to faster innovation across a wide variety of verticals and use cases for increased business uptime.

Features include:

• Device ubiquity: Developers can embed lightweight data storage directly into their applications on nearly any edge, IoT or mobile device because of comprehensive platform support and the C-API.
• Operational ease of use: The addition of Rest-based remote administration supports large multi-tenant edge applications with ease. Architectural enhancements in the areas of manageability and security make it easier to configure and remotely administer the platform from the cloud to the edge.
• Greater flexibility within complex edge architectures: Couchbase can run and sync anywhere: in the cloud, in edge data centres, within a 5G network, on-premises and even on edge devices, enabling multi-tiered, hierarchical edge computing architectures that meet any speed, availability or security requirements.

To help users realise the power of mobile and edge, Couchbase is certified on AWS, Verizon, GCP and Azure. Reference architectures and reference deployments have been developed for AWS Local Zones, AWS Wavelength, AWS Outposts and Verizon 5G Edge. Couchbase was also recently certified as service ready on AWS Outposts.

“As a leader in enterprise mobile app development, we’re helping top brands like GE, AAA, H&R Block and T-Mobile deliver the mobile experiences that will power their businesses,” said Max Lynch, CEO of Ionic. “It is imperative that we work with the right partners to deliver the best experience for our customers. Couchbase is an indispensable partner in helping us achieve this. Our integration with Couchbase Mobile allows developers to leverage familiar web technologies to quickly build fully native applications that run on iOS, Android and native Windows all from one codebase, regardless of internet connectivity.”