What if I told you the most widely used piece of software on the planet follows a code of ethics inspired by a Catholic saint?
That’s right—SQLite, the database engine quietly powering billions of devices, from smartphones to web browsers, owes its moral foundation to none other than St. Benedict of Nursia, the 6th-century monk known for shaping Western monasticism.
SQLite is a lightweight yet powerful database engine embedded in almost every modern device. It’s in your Android or iPhone, your Windows or Mac computer, your Chrome and Firefox browsers, software like QuickBooks and TurboTax and even airplanes! Experts estimate there are over a trillion SQLite databases in active use worldwide, making it potentially the most deployed software ever created.
What makes SQLite stand out isn’t just its ubiquity.
The software’s developers have pledged to follow a unique “Code of Ethics,” drawn directly from the Rule of St. Benedict. This ancient monastic guide, written to cultivate balance, humility and communal harmony, has been adapted to shape how SQLite developers interact with their users and the software community.
Among its principles are commitments to truthfulness, charity and humility. Developers promise to treat users with patience and dignity, regardless of how they are treated in return.
It’s remarkable that a tool so critical to modern technology is guided by the wisdom of a saint who lived over 1,500 years ago. For Catholics, it’s a beautiful reminder of how faith and technology can intersect in unexpected and transformative ways!
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