DuckDB previews v2.0 with a client/server mode, a new SQL parser, and a new storage format

Sources: DuckDB blog, 2026-08-17, HN discussion
Summary: DuckDB published highlights of the upcoming v2.0 release on 2026-08-17. The post covers a client/server mode alongside the existing in-process model, a replaced SQL parser, a new default storage format, and a reworked C API. The 2026-08-16 digest carried the asynchronous I/O work under its own primary source, so this entry does not repeat it.
Why it matters: DuckDB moves past the in-process-only model it has had since the start, and the new default storage format, the replaced parser, and the reworked C API are what a v2.0 upgrade will actually cost a team.
Follow-up: Track the v2.0 release date, the storage format compatibility path, and whether the old C API stays supported.