Databases in BAS: Built-in Storage and SQL

When a bot needs to remember more than a flat file holds — accounts with status, results that update, data you’ll query later — BAS offers two paths: its built-in Database module, and the SQL module for connecting to real database servers.

The built-in Database module

The Database module gives you a built-in store you access in manual mode, organised as groups and records. You can get, update, delete and add records, making it a handy alternative to resources for managing your data without standing up anything external.

Its actions cover groups and records:

• Groups — get the list of groups, create, change, copy and delete a group, move a record into a group.
• Records — insert a record, change one, change records by criteria, get one record or records by criteria, delete by record or criteria, and count records.

Reach for it when you want structured, queryable storage that travels with the bot and needs no setup.

The SQL module — external databases

When you need a real database server, the SQL module connects to the major engines: Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite and MSSQL. This is the choice for shared data, large volumes, or integrating a bot with an existing system’s database.

Its actions are standard database operations:

• Setup connection / Close connection — manage the link to the server.
• Execute query — run arbitrary SQL.
• Read — count records, get one record.
• Write — insert several records, update one or several, delete one or several.

Which to use

• Built-in Database — when you want simple, zero-setup storage local to the bot: a place to track accounts and results that’s richer than a list but needs no server.
• SQL — when data must be shared across machines or systems, when volume is large, or when you’re plugging into an existing database. It’s heavier to set up but it’s a real, networked store.

Both turn a stateless bot into one that accumulates and queries data over time — the difference between scraping once and building a system that remembers.