electric: what it is, what problem it solves & why it's gaining traction

What it solves

Electric provides a real-time synchronization engine for Postgres databases. It eliminates the need for developers to build their own complex sync logic for partial replication, fan-out, and data delivery, which is essential for building fast, modern software and AI agents that require live local data.

How it works

Electric acts as a read-path sync engine that sits in front of a Postgres database with logical replication enabled. It syncs data out of Postgres via a low-level HTTP API, which can be integrated with CDNs for scalable delivery. Users can manage partial replication using "Shapes" to define what data is synced, and consume this data through client libraries (TypeScript) or framework integrations (React).

Who it’s for

Developers building applications that require real-time data synchronization between a server-side Postgres database and clients, including those building AI agents that need access to live local data.

Highlights

• Real-time Postgres sync engine
• Support for partial replication via Shapes
• Low-level HTTP API for flexible data delivery
• Integration with CDNs for high scalability
• TypeScript client libraries and React hooks (e.g., useShape) for easy integration