# Developer prototypes SQLite-based executable format

_Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 10:30 AM EDT · Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

Developer Frank Zakaria described SELF, a prototype that stores an executable's load image and metadata in a SQLite database and runs it through a binfmt_misc interpreter.

The prototype converts ELF files into the format, maps program segments, performs relocation and can query executable metadata with SQL. Zakaria reported a fixed startup cost of about 5 milliseconds and said the interpreter must remain an ELF binary to avoid recursive execution. The work is presented as an experimental prototype rather than a production replacement for ELF.

## Sources

- [fzakaria.com](https://fzakaria.com/2026/08/23/your-executable-is-a-sqlite-database)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/btRb9w0Mra0IsDEoNvZV-L
Retrieved: 2026-08-24T21:21:32.345Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)