wisckey · research

WiscKey

WiscKey is a research key-value store that keeps keys and value references in an LSM-tree while appending records to a separate value log.

Related Observatory article: WiscKey on hesela.com

The FAST 2016 prototype separates sorting from value reclamation. Its tail collector consults the index to identify surviving records before relocation. [1]

Reclaiming the old space requires persistent replacement records and updated references. This ordering is distinct from acknowledging a foreground write. [1]

HashKV changes the cleaning lookup path; it is not another name for WiscKey. [2]

Relations

related

Bitcask, Key-value separation, Value log, HashKV

Limitations

• The paper's recovery argument assumes append-prefix filesystem behavior. Historical evaluation does not establish performance or crash guarantees for arbitrary current storage stacks. [1]

Citations

1. Lu, Pillai, A. C. Arpaci-Dusseau and R. H. Arpaci-Dusseau. WiscKey. FAST 2016, pp. 133-148, sections 3.2-3.4. (accessed 2026-11-14)
2. Chan, Li, Lee and Xu. HashKV. USENIX ATC 2018, sections 2.2 and 3.3. (accessed 2026-11-14)

Further reading

3. Hesela: key-value separation and cleaning authority. (accessed 2026-11-14)

JSON: /data/terms/wisckey.json