Firebird is gaining support for Unix Domain Sockets (UDS) through PR #9034, a feature aimed at improving local inter-process connectivity, especially in constrained environments like Android and iOS. The change introduces a new unix:// connection string format and a RemoteServiceUnixSocket configuration option, allowing Firebird clients and services to communicate over filesystem-based sockets instead of TCP.
This is a meaningful enhancement for mobile and sandboxed platforms, where filesystem permissions can be easier to manage than network ports. It also opens the door for scenarios where applications can launch a Firebird server process and connect to it locally even when embedded mode is not viable, which was the core motivation described in linked issue #9033.
From an implementation standpoint, the PR updates both client and server networking layers to recognize and handle AF_UNIX sockets, adds cleanup and auxiliary event-socket handling, and extends support to Windows environments that expose Unix socket APIs. It also updates configuration, build detection, and documentation so the new transport is visible and usable across supported platforms.
At a glance
- PR: #9034 — Feature #9033 - Support for Unix Domain Sockets
- Author: asfernandes
- Status: Open, non-draft, mergeable
- Scope: 13 files changed, +544 / -27
- Commits: 2
- Linked feature request: #9033
- CI: Check runs completed on a broad platform matrix, including Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, and Android builds
Why it matters
- Better fit for mobile and sandboxed environments
- Enables secure local connections based on filesystem permissions
- Reduces dependence on TCP for local-only communication
- Expands Firebird deployment flexibility for modern app runtimes
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