# NoKV

> NoKV is an open-source, Agent-native distributed workspace and artifact store. It publishes crash-consistent, versioned workspace state over immutable S3-compatible artifacts and exposes the same stable Workbench semantics through its primary native CLI, direct SDKs, and an optional stdio MCP sidecar.

Canonical project identity: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV

License: Apache-2.0. Primary language: Rust 1.88+.

## Product contract

- One path-shaped Workbench namespace for Agent inputs, work, outputs, logs, and metadata.
- Exactly 18 stable Workbench operation names: the native CLI accepts them directly, SDKs provide programmatic access, and the optional MCP sidecar exposes them as tools.
- Atomic publication: artifact bytes are uploaded before one bounded metadata command makes a new generation visible.
- Immutable, revision-owned artifact bodies in S3-compatible object storage.
- Leased MVCC snapshots for short-lived recovery and sealed commits or tags for durable reuse.
- Restore stages a fresh hidden Workbench incarnation and publishes it atomically.
- Typed change events, query indexes, retention, and reference-fenced garbage collection.

## Storage model and boundaries

- `RootId` is the storage and routing identity. Root-to-logical-shard affinity is persisted.
- One epoch-fenced active owner serves each logical shard; Holt is the current local `TxnStore` adapter.
- Guarantees are shard-local. NoKV does not provide cross-shard transactions.
- Snapshot protection is leased. Workbench or root scoping is not an authentication or RBAC boundary.
- NoKV is not a semantic-memory database or an Agent orchestrator.
- FUSE, POSIX emulation, CSI, arbitrary-root filesystem integration, and a general NAS replacement are outside the product architecture.

## Engineering evidence

- Rust CI and recovery qualification: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/actions/workflows/rust.yml
- Python SDK wheel build, clean install, and tests: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/actions/workflows/python-sdk.yml
- DCO sign-off gate: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/actions/workflows/dco.yml
- Latest source release: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/releases/latest
- Homebrew source Formula: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/homebrew-tap/blob/main/Formula/nokv.rb
- Security policy and private reporting: https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/security/policy

## Third-party listings

- [CNCF Cloud Native Landscape](https://landscape.cncf.io/?group=projects-and-products&item=runtime--cloud-native-storage--nokv): Runtime / Cloud Native Storage, with AI Native Infra / Storage as an additional path.
- [LF AI & Data Landscape](https://landscape.lfai.foundation/?group=projects-and-products&item=data--store-format--nokv): Data / Store & Format.
- [Awesome Rust](https://github.com/rust-unofficial/awesome-rust#database): Applications / Database.
- [DBDB.io](https://dbdb.io/db/nokv): historical profile of NoKV's earlier Go storage-engine line.

Landscape inclusion is a third-party catalog listing, not foundation-hosted project status, membership, or endorsement.

## Primary links

- [Website](https://nokv.io/)
- [Current source and README](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV)
- [Workbench contract](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/blob/main/docs/workbench-contract.md)
- [Product design](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/blob/main/docs/product-design.md)
- [Architecture](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/blob/main/docs/architecture.md)
- [Deployment preflight](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/blob/main/docs/workbench-preflight.md)
- [Discussions](https://github.com/NoKV-Lab/NoKV/discussions)
- [Blog RSS](https://nokv.io/blog/rss.xml)