# parse_number() as a SQLite extension: C vs Rust

- Source: Simon Willison (LLMs)
- Published: 2026-11-08T22:26:00+00:00
- Category: Tech
- Original: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Nov/8/sqlite-parse-number-c-vs-rust/
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/parse-number-as-a-sqlite-extension-c-vs-rust-957224/

Research: parse_number() as a SQLite extension: C vs Rust I was out walking the dog when I got curious about how easy/difficult it would be to write a SQLite C extension that adds a parse_number() function for turning strings like -$1,234.56 or '12.5%' into numeric values that could be summed and sorted. I fired up regular Claude chat (Opus 5.5) and prompted : I'm thinking about a SQLite custom fu

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