This database would be for a dictionary program. Basic description:

I would like the database to:

1. scale well to a million key-value pairs, where the keys are normally under 20 characters and the values are usually under 1000 characters
2. have perfect UTF-8 support
3. work well with using git as version control for the database (Is this one impractical with current tools?)
4. have a well-supported interop with Ruby  (see below)
5. be fairly responsive (though I'd like fast)

Any suggestions?

EDIT:

I'm not going to use pre-made software (unless I change my mind).

I'm looking for a database software package for a dictionary (like the hunk(s) of dead tree that you might have somewhere at home). I would like the database to

1. scale well to a million key-value pairs. The pairs would normally be fewer than 20 characters, and the normally fewer than 1000 characters.
2. have perfect UTF-8 support.
3. deal with distributed version control. I would like it to deal well with having lots of branches and doing merges of branches. This could be built-in or provided independently by something like git.
4. have a well-supported interop with Ruby. I plan to write a desktop program in Ruby that talks to the database. (Ruby would also work for writing the web part if it ever happens.)
5. be fairly responsive (though I would like it to be fast).
6. deal well with changes both while just on a desktop and while providing data for something on the web. (Hopefully this project will get to the web part.)
7. be free software (as defined by RMS) and to be available at no charge.

All of this data would be entered by hand.

It wouldn't hurt if there were something like github for this database. I don't know if there is a database for which someone provides something like that, though.

No one's job, career, or company rides on this decision.

Any suggestions?

This database would be for a dictionary program. Basic description:

I would like the database to:

1. scale well to a million key-value pairs, where the keys are normally under 20 characters and the values are usually under 1000 characters
2. have perfect UTF-8 support
3. work well with using git as version control for the database (Is this one impractical with current tools?)
4. have a well-supported interop with Ruby (see below)
5. be really responsive. Faster is better, of course.

Any suggestions?

I intend to use it with a Ruby program if that makes any difference.

Pick one or more of these options or rewrite them for your post:

• I intend to use a relational model.
• I intend to use a key-value-pair model.
• I intend to use an ORM so I don't need stored procedure support.
• I intend to distribute this over several continents and need them all to be able to replicate the data as quickly as possible.
• I intend to put data in rarely once I go-live, this will mostly be a read-only database.

This database would be for a dictionary program. Basic description:

I would like the database to:

1. scale well to a million key-value pairs, where the keys are normally under 20 characters and the values are usually under 1000 characters
2. have perfect UTF-8 support
3. work well with using git as version control for the database (Is this one impractical with current tools?)
4. have a well-supported interop with Ruby (see below)
5. be fairly responsive (though I'd like fast)

Any suggestions?

EDIT:

I'm not going to use pre-made software (unless I change my mind).