SQLite prefixes its temp files with `etilqs_`

# SQLite prefixes its temp files with `etilqs_` - blag Source: [https://avi.im/blag/2026/etilqs/](https://avi.im/blag/2026/etilqs/) [Turso](https://github.com/tursodatabase/turso)is a rewrite of SQLite in Rust, fully compatible with SQLite\. I’ve been working on implementing`VACUUM`and studying their \(beautiful\) code\.`VACUUM`rebuilds the database into a fresh temporary file to reclaim space and defragment pages\. SQLite prefixes this temp file with`etilqs\_`\. Here’s why: ``` /* ** 2006-10-31: The default prefix used to be "sqlite_". But then ** Mcafee started using SQLite in their anti-virus product and it ** started putting files with the "sqlite" name in the c:/temp folder. ** This annoyed many windows users. Those users would then do a ** Google search for "sqlite", find the telephone numbers of the ** developers and call to wake them up at night and complain. ** For this reason, the default name prefix is changed to be "sqlite" ** spelled backwards. So the temp files are still identified, but ** anybody smart enough to figure out the code is also likely smart ** enough to know that calling the developer will not help get rid ** of the file. */ #ifndef SQLITE_TEMP_FILE_PREFIX # define SQLITE_TEMP_FILE_PREFIX "etilqs_" #endif ``` It’s here:[os\.h](https://github.com/sqlite/sqlite/blob/version-3.53.0/src/os.h#L65,%23L79)\.