In 2026, the trend of “Running Doom on X” continues, showcasing the versatility of the 1993 game. The latest effort involves running Doom in CedarDB, a relational database management system (RDBMS), through the SQLDoom project led by Lukas Vogel. This project looks to integrate game logic and database structure creatively.
Vogel highlights the surprising ease of converting the game’s WAD file data into a database format, thanks to its already relational nature. With about 1,000 lines of Python code for the front end and 5,900 lines of SQL for the game’s logic, the setup is efficient, utilizing SQL’s capabilities for simultaneous processing.
The graphical renderer comprises around 1,300 lines, facilitated by SQL queries that efficiently handle the Binary Space Partitioning (BSP) that defines Doom’s environment. Notably, the database’s design offers improved synchronization for multiplayer scenarios, demonstrating how traditional gaming constructs can be adapted using modern database techniques.
You can explore SQLDoom on its GitHub repository or check out Vogel’s blog post for more details on this innovative project.
