Corey Quinn Compiled Doom Using DNS Database
The experimental setup leverages a massive database to execute game code.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Data Centers
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Cloud analyst Corey Quinn has successfully compiled and run the classic game Doom by utilizing a DNS database as its primary computing engine. The project relies on a complex system of truth tables to manage game variables and instruction execution.
Why it matters
This experiment demonstrates the unconventional capabilities of DNS infrastructure when pushed beyond its traditional role as a networking directory. It highlights how persistent databases can be manipulated to serve as functional, if slow, computing platforms.
The system processes 6.4 million rows of truth tables using a DNS server to perform key-value reads and conditional writes. One game update takes 54 seconds to complete compared to the standard Doom tic rate of 35 per second.
The players
Corey Quinn
Corey Quinn is a cloud analyst and infrastructure expert who created the project.
GitHub
GitHub is the software development platform where the source code for the project is hosted.
The details
The project uses a custom compiler to perform instruction decoding ahead of time, with a DNS UPDATE mechanism allowing variables to change dynamically. The DNS database functions as a librarian that pulls precomputed answers from the stored truth tables to run the game for a 32-bit machine.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: The project was published and reported.
The Tech Race
This project redefines the potential of the Domain Name System protocol by repurposing it as a computational engine rather than a static directory. It challenges traditional views on infrastructure limits by forcing legacy network tools to replace high-speed internal memory.
While the project is a technical curiosity rather than a practical tool, it illustrates the extreme lengths to which developers can push existing networking protocols. Users interested in system architecture can explore the code to see how database constraints impact software performance.
The takeaway
This experiment proves that even the most rigid infrastructure protocols can be manipulated to execute complex logic. It serves as a reminder to developers that creative use of database architecture can yield surprising results when performance is not the primary objective.
Further reading
For more on evolving infrastructure, visit our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pcgamer.
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