SQLite’s small code size and conservative resource use makes it well suited for embedded systems running limited operating systems. The ANSI C source code tends toward an older, more conservative style that should be accepted by even the most eccentric embedded processor compiler. Using the default configuration, the compiled SQLite library is less than 700 KB on most platforms, and requires less than 4 MB of memory to operate. By omitting the more advanced features, the library can often be trimmed to 300 KB or less. With minor configuration changes, the library can be made to function on less than 256 KB of memory, making its total footprint not much more than half a megabyte, plus data storage.

SQLite expects only minimal support from its host environment and is written in a very modular way. The internal memory allocator can be easily modified or swapped out, while all file and storage access is done through a Virtual File System (VFS) interface that can be modified to meet the needs and requirements of different platforms. In general, SQLite can be made to run on almost anything with a 32-bit processor.