The Cube alternative with formal verification and graph queries
SynaLemma is a semantic layer for AI agents: rules compiled to SQL, verified before they run, with native recursion and assertions on the data.
SynaLemma vs Cube at a glance
| Criterion | SynaLemma | Cube |
|---|---|---|
| Definitions written in | Synalog, a logic language with a compiler | YAML or JavaScript |
| What checks the definitions | A symbolic verifier proves every rule well-formed, safe and terminating | A compile check; Cube's docs warn a compiling model can still return wrong results |
| Checks on the data | Assertions in first-order logic, with counterexamples | None documented: agent answers are measured with evals |
| Joins | Any join the rule states, as far as the question needs | Every join is generated as a LEFT JOIN |
| Hierarchies and multi-hop chains | Native recursion, verified to terminate | Hierarchies are drill-down levels, not recursion |
| How an agent answers | Writes a verified rule, compiled to SQL by the engine | The agent writes Cube SQL from your question |
| Language model | The one you choose, a small open model is enough | Hosted models by default; your own model on the Enterprise plan |
| Deployment | Your infrastructure | Cube Core self-hosted; the AI agent is part of Cube Cloud |
Why teams look for a Cube alternative
-
LEFT joins only. Cube generates every join as a LEFT JOIN, with no FULL or RIGHT OUTER JOIN (joins).
-
No recursion. Hierarchies are drill-down levels; org charts or bills of materials need hand-written recursive SQL (hierarchies).
-
Compile checks only. Cube's docs state that a compiling model can still return wrong results (MCP server).
-
No data assertions. Agent accuracy is measured with evals against reference queries (evals).
-
Hosted models by default. Bringing your own model requires the Enterprise plan (bring your own model).
SynaLemma vs Cube: key differences
1. Formal verification of every rule
A symbolic verifier proves each Synalog rule is well-formed, safe and terminating before any SQL runs. Invalid rules are rejected.
2. Assertions on the data
Properties such as keys, references, totals or transitivity are written in first-order logic. The engine searches the whole table for counterexamples and returns them.
3. Graph queries on SQL
Recursion is part of the language: hierarchies and multi-hop chains compile to SQL on PostgreSQL, BigQuery, Databricks, Trino, Presto, DuckDB and SQLite. No graph database needed.
4. Sovereign by construction, not by contract
SynaLemma runs on-premises: data, rules and model stay on your infrastructure. The engine compiles the SQL, so a small open model is enough.
Example: a recursive query with assertions
A bill of materials at any depth, with two assertions. The data contains a cycle; the engine reports it before any answer is returned.
# The bill of materials, read from the database.
Component(assembly:, part:, quantity:) :- bom(assembly:, part:, quantity:);
# A part is inside an assembly directly, or inside one of its parts.
@Recursive(Contains, 20);
@Assert(Contains,
transitive: "∀ a b c, Contains a b → Contains b c → Contains a c",
no_cycle: "∀ a, ¬ Contains a a");
Contains(assembly:, part:) distinct :- Component(assembly:, part:);
Contains(assembly:, part:) distinct :-
Contains(assembly:, part: sub),
Component(assembly: sub, part:);Sources
Checked against each product's public documentation on the review date. To report an error: contact@synalinks.com.
Cube alternative: FAQ
What is the best Cube alternative for AI agents?
SynaLemma. It compiles rules to SQL like Cube, and adds formal verification of every rule, assertions on the data, native recursion and local models.
Does Cube support recursive queries?
No. Cube hierarchies are drill-down levels and every join is a LEFT JOIN. Recursive questions need hand-written SQL. In Synalog, recursion is native and verified to terminate.
Are Cube evals the same as assertions?
No. Evals compare agent answers with reference queries. Assertions check a property of every result and return the rows that break it.
Can SynaLemma run with a local model?
Yes. A small open model on your own hardware is enough, because the engine compiles the SQL.
Bring a question your current stack can't answer.
In 30 minutes, we show SynaLemma answering it, with the rule behind the number and the checks it passed.