ElectricSQL Real-Time Postgres Sync Engine
ElectricSQL is a read-path sync engine for PostgreSQL that handles partial replication, data delivery, and fan-out. It syncs data out of Postgres in real time using an HTTP API that integrates with CDNs, with Shapes for managing partial replication and client libraries for React and TypeScript.
ElectricSQL is a read-path sync engine for PostgreSQL that handles partial replication, data delivery, and fan-out. It syncs data out of Postgres in real time using an HTTP API that integrates with CDNs, with Shapes for managing partial replication and client libraries for React and TypeScript.
npx skills add agentskillexchange/skills --skill electricsql-postgres-sync-engine
ElectricSQL is a Postgres sync engine that solves the hard problems of real-time data synchronization. It provides partial replication, fan-out, and data delivery so developers can build fast, modern applications — from collaborative tools like Figma and Linear to AI agents running on live local data — without rolling custom sync infrastructure.
At its core, Electric is a read-path sync engine. It watches PostgreSQL logical replication and delivers changes to clients over a low-level HTTP API. This architecture integrates naturally with CDNs for highly scalable data delivery, letting applications serve thousands of concurrent clients without custom WebSocket infrastructure.
Partial replication is managed through Shapes, which define subsets of data to sync. A Shape specifies a table and optional WHERE clause, and Electric streams matching rows and subsequent changes to subscribed clients. This avoids syncing entire databases while keeping subscribed data fresh in real time.
The sync protocol supports multiple consumption modes. The HTTP API can be consumed directly with cURL or any HTTP client. Official TypeScript and Elixir client libraries provide higher-level abstractions, and framework integrations like the useShape React hook make it trivial to build reactive UIs that update in real time as data changes in Postgres.
Getting started requires a PostgreSQL database with logical replication enabled and an Electric service connected via DATABASE_URL. Docker Compose handles deployment in development, and the service is stateless — it can be horizontally scaled behind a load balancer. Electric reads from the Postgres WAL (Write-Ahead Log) and maintains its own shape log for efficient client catch-up.
For AI agent workflows, Electric enables agents to maintain a live local replica of relevant data subsets. Instead of polling databases or building custom notification systems, agents subscribe to Shapes and receive real-time updates as data changes. This pattern is effective for agents that monitor data conditions, react to changes, or maintain local state for fast decision-making.
ElectricSQL reached version 1.0 in March 2025, signaling production readiness. The project is open source under the Apache 2.0 license, with an active community on Discord and regular releases on GitHub.