Not sure if you all saw this, but thought you might be interested. Looks like sqlite got added (optionally) to the emacs distribution emacs.git - Emacs source repository
I know that there’s been some talk in the past about migrating some of the db related features to org proper, in order for them to be taken advantage of in more than just roam. Seems like this might make that more of a possibility. At the very least, it might be even easier/simpler to install org-roam in the future.
I was tempted to try just copying the lisp/sqllite-mode.el file into my local configuration, but I read in there that it depends on sqlite.c, which gave me the impression that wouldn’t work.
In addition, when you have run configure, at the end it should display a summary. You should be able to see if you have the correct sqlite library so that make can build it with the feature.
Them it can not be “on by default” if ti depends on an installed libraray. The buld system need to take care of that.
The state of the on/off switch shouldn’t depend on the available libraries installed. The system need to inform the user if a lib is missing in that case.