Decodable vs RisingWave: Managed Stream Processing Compared
Decodable is a managed stream processing platform built on Apache Flink. RisingWave is a PostgreSQL-compatible streaming database available as both open source (self-hosted) and managed cloud. Use Decodable for managed Flink without operational overhead. Use RisingWave for streaming SQL with built-in serving, CDC, and open-source flexibility.
Comparison
| Feature | Decodable | RisingWave |
| Based on | Apache Flink | Custom (Rust) |
| Deployment | Managed only | Self-hosted + Cloud |
| SQL dialect | Flink SQL | PostgreSQL-compatible |
| Built-in serving | ❌ (sink to external DB) | ✅ (PostgreSQL protocol) |
| CDC | Via Debezium connectors | ✅ Native (no middleware) |
| Iceberg sink | ✅ | ✅ (with auto-compaction) |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0 |
| State management | Managed Flink state | S3 (disaggregated) |
Key Difference: Processing vs Processing + Serving
Decodable processes data and sinks to external systems — you need a separate database to serve results. RisingWave processes AND serves — materialized views are directly queryable via PostgreSQL protocol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I self-host Decodable?
No. Decodable is managed-only. RisingWave can be self-hosted (Apache 2.0) or used as a managed cloud service.
Which has better Flink compatibility?
Decodable, since it's built on Flink. If you need Flink-specific features (MATCH_RECOGNIZE, DataStream API), Decodable is closer. RisingWave uses its own engine with PostgreSQL SQL.
