As the leader of the Developer Relations team at KX, I’ve seen firsthand how kdb+ has earned its reputation for speed, scalability, and performance in data-intensive environments. It powers electronic markets and has proven itself time and again in the most demanding use cases. But what excites me most right now isn’t just what kdb+ has achieved to date—it’s where it’s going next.
Today’s developers need more than just performance. They need tools that integrate seamlessly, scale effortlessly, and increase the speed of innovation through open collaboration. With KX recently becoming a standalone software company, we have a unique opportunity to redefine kdb+. We’re transforming it from a tool of niche excellence into a globally accessible platform, maintaining its unique efficiency and elegance while adding flexibility for modern workflows.
This isn’t just about expanding kdb+’s reach—it’s about taking the platform that you love and helping you achieve more as you grow, build, and connect with a larger community. Let’s dive into how kdb+ is poised to empower developers everywhere.
Where we’re headed: A developer-driven vision
kdb+ is for developers, by developers. After listening to community and customer feedback, we’ve landed on three core principles to build a richer experience:
1. Accessibility
Making kdb+ easy to discover, learn, and use is essential. From simplified installation to an improved onboarding experience, we’re removing friction so developers can quickly realize the value of the platform. Developers can expect:
- A free tier with commercial freedom to encourage exploration and experimentation
- Intuitive guides and examples designed to make skilling up faster and easier
- Enhanced documentation featuring embedded, interactive code
2. Extensibility
kdb+ will embrace an open ecosystem where users can seamlessly scale applications, incorporate new data sets, and tackle advanced use cases like AI. Our vision includes:
- A curated library of open-source modules
- A robust package management framework for effortless extensibility
- Transparent development practices with contributions from the global developer community
3. Interoperability
kdb+ will integrate smoothly into existing data ecosystems developers value and build within. You can expect:
- First-class support for Python through PyKX
- Compatibility with open file formats and common data frameworks
- Enhanced tools for SQL, object storage, and machine learning integration
Building Together
What excites me most about this transformation is the opportunity to build, learn, and grow alongside a larger community. We’re creating:
- A streamlined, developer-centric ecosystem with interconnected tools and libraries
- Free tier access to expand involvement and lower barriers to entry
- New developer tools for debugging, profiling, and building with kdb+
- Open-source modules to support AI, machine learning, and beyond
Documentation will play a pivotal role in telling our story. An updated website will host consolidated technical content and dynamic, interactive elements, enabling users to test-drive kdb+ capabilities without ever leaving the browser.
Why Now?
The explosion of data means the time for change is now. By breaking down barriers and making kdb+ easier to use, we’re opening the door for more developers to experience what makes kdb+ so powerful. This is about more than technology—it’s about building a community of problem-solvers who can tackle the next wave of data challenges.
This transformation represents more than a shift in strategy—it’s a call to action. Whether you’re a seasoned kdb+ pro or just getting started, this is your chance to be part of something bigger.
Join Us! Reach out to plg@kx.com to get involved in this journey, or hop into our KX Community on Slack to get general updates.
Let’s build the future—together.
