One disadvantage is it introduces an application dependency. If the purpose of an archive is to preserve the data for future recall, years or decades later, having it in the most accessible format possible would be a priority.

Remembered I read something about this some time ago, looked it up:

SQLite is a recommended storage format (https://www.sqlite.org/locrsf.html) by the library of congress

> As of this writing (2018-05-29) the only other recommended storage formats for datasets are XML, JSON, and CSV

The Library of Congress stores its web archives as WARCs.

Good to know, thanks!

Very true, but I'd say SQlite is the one application dependency that could have a pass:

- they promise support until at least 2050 (https://sqlite.org/lts.html)

- if a promise isn't enough, SQlite is to be supported for the entire lifetime of the Airbus A350 airframe (https://mobile.twitter.com/copiousfreetime/status/6758345433...). I would assume Airbus will be paying for it.

A real problem with application dependency is that it makes it extremely hard to create a completely independent alternative. A good protocol should have multiple implementations with nothing in common otherwise you rely on specific implementation details. The infamous case of WebSQL should remind us of that.

Also excellent points I waan't aware of, thanks!