🔗 Your executable is a SQLite database

Can a SQLite database replace the traditional ELF executable format? In a thought-provoking exploration, Farid Zakaria delves into the potential of employing SQLite as a genuine executable, dubbed SELF (Structured Executable & Linkable Format). By leveraging SQLite's self-describing features, Zakaria argues that an executable format can not only be more efficient but also easier to work with. He demonstrates that key functionalities of ELF can be reimplemented through a relational structure, allowing tools and queries to operate seamlessly without cumbersome overhead. Zakaria's experiments show that this innovation could streamline program execution while simplifying the complexities typically encountered with ELF files, including dynamic linking and symbol resolution. This article is a detailed journey into a radical idea that blurs the lines between databases and executables, highlighting a forward-thinking approach to software architecture.