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Apache Kylin vs Apache TsFile

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Apache Kylin vs Apache TsFile: at a glance

FeatureApache KylinApache TsFile
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score2.52.5
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesolap, apache project, gluten, release hygienetime series, columnar format, apache arrow, multi-language
Last editorial update2h ago2h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Apache Kylin?

Kylin keeps tagging releases, 5.0.5 included, without saying what changed.

Apache Kylin tagged 5.0.5 on 12 October, three months after 5.0.4, and like its predecessor it carries only the Maven release plugin's commit message. The last release that documented its contents was 5.0.2 in April 2025, covering internal-table caching, partition-aware file merging and Gluten jar loading order. The 5.0 line itself dates from September 2024.

Read the full Apache Kylin trajectory →

What is Apache TsFile?

TsFile 2.5 adds Go to its Java, C++ and Python implementations.

Apache TsFile is the columnar time-series file format underneath IoTDB. The 2.x line has concentrated on the native and Python ends: Arrow-compatible results into Python DataFrames in 2.3.0, CSV, Parquet and Arrow conversion scripts in 2.3.1, SIMD and parallel reads in 2.4.0, and in October 2.5.0 with table-model read and write APIs for Go plus persistent dataset indexes. The old 1.1 line still gets occasional backport releases, most recently 1.1.4 in September.

Read the full Apache TsFile trajectory →

Apache Kylin vs Apache TsFile: editorial side-by-side

A
Apache Kylin
ANALYTICS
2.5

Kylin keeps tagging releases, 5.0.5 included, without saying what changed.

◆ Current state

Apache Kylin tagged 5.0.5 on 12 October, three months after 5.0.4, and like its predecessor it carries only the Maven release plugin's commit message. The last release that documented its contents was 5.0.2 in April 2025, covering internal-table caching, partition-aware file merging and Gluten jar loading order. The 5.0 line itself dates from September 2024.

◆ Where it's heading

The tag cadence has picked up (July, then October) while the documentation has stopped entirely, so the 5.0.x line is being maintained but not explained. Anyone tracking Kylin has to read the commit history rather than the release feed.

◆ Prediction

Another bare 5.0.x tag is the likeliest next entry; nothing in the feed points to a 5.1 or 6.0.

A
Apache TsFile
ANALYTICS
2.5

TsFile 2.5 adds Go to its Java, C++ and Python implementations.

◆ Current state

Apache TsFile is the columnar time-series file format underneath IoTDB. The 2.x line has concentrated on the native and Python ends: Arrow-compatible results into Python DataFrames in 2.3.0, CSV, Parquet and Arrow conversion scripts in 2.3.1, SIMD and parallel reads in 2.4.0, and in October 2.5.0 with table-model read and write APIs for Go plus persistent dataset indexes. The old 1.1 line still gets occasional backport releases, most recently 1.1.4 in September.

◆ Where it's heading

TsFile is being shaped into an interchange format that non-JVM tools can read and write directly, with each release widening language coverage or speeding up the native path. The 1.1 backports show IoTDB users on older versions are still being supported.

◆ Prediction

Expect a 2.5.x patch release fixing the new Go and index features, following the pattern of 2.3.1 after 2.3.0.

Alternatives to Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile

Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Apache Kylin or Apache TsFile.

See all Apache Kylin alternatives → · See all Apache TsFile alternatives →

Recent activity from Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 19d agoApache TsFileApache TsFile 2.5.0
  2. 21d agoApache KylinKylin 5.0.5 tagged without release notes
  3. 1mo agoApache TsFileTsFile 1.1.4 backports metadata and filter fixes
  4. 3mo agoApache TsFileSIMD and parallel read paths in Apache TsFile 2.4.0
  5. 3mo agoApache Kylin5.0.4 tagged with no release notes
  6. 5mo agoApache TsFileCSV, Parquet and Arrow conversion scripts for TsFile 2.3.1
  7. 6mo agoApache TsFileArrow-backed DataFrames and paginated reads in TsFile 2.3.0
  8. 6mo agoApache TsFileWrite-time schema changes and read/write encryption in TsFile 2.2.1
  9. 1y agoApache Kylin5.0.3 tagged with no release notes
  10. 1y agoApache KylinInternal table caching, partition file merging, Gluten fixes
  11. 2y agoApache KylinApache Kylin 5.0.0 ⚡
  12. 2y agoApache KylinStreaming function fix

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 2.5 vs 2.5, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Apache Kylin better than Apache TsFile?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Apache Kylin and Apache TsFile are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 2.5 vs 2.5, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Apache Kylin?

Top Apache Kylin alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache Kylin alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/apache-kylin for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Apache TsFile?

Top Apache TsFile alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache TsFile alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/apache-tsfile for the full list with editorial commentary on each.