diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-4.8.patch b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-4.8.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c53160a8297
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-4.8.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+diff --git a/dbinc/atomic.h b/dbinc/atomic.h
+index 0034dcc..fa7ba93 100644
+--- a/dbinc/atomic.h
++++ b/dbinc/atomic.h
+@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ typedef LONG volatile *interlocked_val;
+ #define	atomic_inc(env, p)	__atomic_inc(p)
+ #define	atomic_dec(env, p)	__atomic_dec(p)
+ #define	atomic_compare_exchange(env, p, o, n)	\
+-	__atomic_compare_exchange((p), (o), (n))
++	__db_atomic_compare_exchange((p), (o), (n))
+ static inline int __atomic_inc(db_atomic_t *p)
+ {
+ 	int	temp;
+@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static inline int __atomic_dec(db_atomic_t *p)
+  * http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.1.0/gcc/Atomic-Builtins.html
+  * which configure could be changed to use.
+  */
+-static inline int __atomic_compare_exchange(
++static inline int __db_atomic_compare_exchange(
+ 	db_atomic_t *p, atomic_value_t oldval, atomic_value_t newval)
+ {
+ 	atomic_value_t was;
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-5.3.patch b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-5.3.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a0993da13e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/clang-5.3.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+diff --git a/src/dbinc/atomic.h b/src/dbinc/atomic.h
+index 6a858f7..9f338dc 100644
+--- a/src/dbinc/atomic.h
++++ b/src/dbinc/atomic.h
+@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ typedef struct {
+  * These have no memory barriers; the caller must include them when necessary.
+  */
+ #define	atomic_read(p)		((p)->value)
+-#define	atomic_init(p, val)	((p)->value = (val))
++#define	atomic_init_db(p, val)	((p)->value = (val))
+ 
+ #ifdef HAVE_ATOMIC_SUPPORT
+ 
+@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ typedef LONG volatile *interlocked_val;
+ #define	atomic_inc(env, p)	__atomic_inc(p)
+ #define	atomic_dec(env, p)	__atomic_dec(p)
+ #define	atomic_compare_exchange(env, p, o, n)	\
+-	__atomic_compare_exchange((p), (o), (n))
++	__atomic_compare_exchange_db((p), (o), (n))
+ static inline int __atomic_inc(db_atomic_t *p)
+ {
+ 	int	temp;
+@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static inline int __atomic_dec(db_atomic_t *p)
+  * http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.1.0/gcc/Atomic-Builtins.html
+  * which configure could be changed to use.
+  */
+-static inline int __atomic_compare_exchange(
++static inline int __atomic_compare_exchange_db(
+ 	db_atomic_t *p, atomic_value_t oldval, atomic_value_t newval)
+ {
+ 	atomic_value_t was;
+@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ static inline int __atomic_compare_exchange(
+ #define	atomic_dec(env, p)	(--(p)->value)
+ #define	atomic_compare_exchange(env, p, oldval, newval)		\
+ 	(DB_ASSERT(env, atomic_read(p) == (oldval)),		\
+-	atomic_init(p, (newval)), 1)
++	atomic_init_db(p, (newval)), 1)
+ #else
+ #define atomic_inc(env, p)	__atomic_inc(env, p)
+ #define atomic_dec(env, p)	__atomic_dec(env, p)
+diff --git a/src/dbinc/db.in b/src/dbinc/db.in
+index 92ac822..f80428e 100644
+--- a/src/dbinc/db.in
++++ b/src/dbinc/db.in
+@@ -2782,7 +2782,7 @@ typedef struct {
+ #define	fetch(a)	__db_dbm_fetch@DB_VERSION_UNIQUE_NAME@(a)
+ #define	firstkey	__db_dbm_firstkey@DB_VERSION_UNIQUE_NAME@
+ #define	nextkey(a)	__db_dbm_nextkey@DB_VERSION_UNIQUE_NAME@(a)
+-#define	store(a, b)	__db_dbm_store@DB_VERSION_UNIQUE_NAME@(a, b)
++#define	store_db(a, b)	__db_dbm_store@DB_VERSION_UNIQUE_NAME@(a, b)
+ 
+ /*******************************************************
+  * Hsearch historic interface.
+diff --git a/src/mp/mp_fget.c b/src/mp/mp_fget.c
+index 16de695..d0dcc29 100644
+--- a/src/mp/mp_fget.c
++++ b/src/mp/mp_fget.c
+@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ alloc:		/* Allocate a new buffer header and data space. */
+ 
+ 		/* Initialize enough so we can call __memp_bhfree. */
+ 		alloc_bhp->flags = 0;
+-		atomic_init(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
++		atomic_init_db(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
+ #ifdef DIAGNOSTIC
+ 		if ((uintptr_t)alloc_bhp->buf & (sizeof(size_t) - 1)) {
+ 			__db_errx(env, DB_STR("3025",
+@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ alloc:		/* Allocate a new buffer header and data space. */
+ 			MVCC_MPROTECT(bhp->buf, mfp->pagesize,
+ 			    PROT_READ);
+ 
+-		atomic_init(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
++		atomic_init_db(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
+ 		MUTEX_LOCK(env, alloc_bhp->mtx_buf);
+ 		alloc_bhp->priority = bhp->priority;
+ 		alloc_bhp->pgno = bhp->pgno;
+diff --git a/src/mp/mp_mvcc.c b/src/mp/mp_mvcc.c
+index 770bad8..e28cce0 100644
+--- a/src/mp/mp_mvcc.c
++++ b/src/mp/mp_mvcc.c
+@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ __memp_bh_freeze(dbmp, infop, hp, bhp, need_frozenp)
+ #else
+ 	memcpy(frozen_bhp, bhp, SSZA(BH, buf));
+ #endif
+-	atomic_init(&frozen_bhp->ref, 0);
++	atomic_init_db(&frozen_bhp->ref, 0);
+ 	if (mutex != MUTEX_INVALID)
+ 		frozen_bhp->mtx_buf = mutex;
+ 	else if ((ret = __mutex_alloc(env, MTX_MPOOL_BH,
+@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ __memp_bh_thaw(dbmp, infop, hp, frozen_bhp, alloc_bhp)
+ #endif
+ 		alloc_bhp->mtx_buf = mutex;
+ 		MUTEX_LOCK(env, alloc_bhp->mtx_buf);
+-		atomic_init(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
++		atomic_init_db(&alloc_bhp->ref, 1);
+ 		F_CLR(alloc_bhp, BH_FROZEN);
+ 	}
+ 
+diff --git a/src/mp/mp_region.c b/src/mp/mp_region.c
+index 4952030..47645f8 100644
+--- a/src/mp/mp_region.c
++++ b/src/mp/mp_region.c
+@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ __memp_init(env, dbmp, reginfo_off, htab_buckets, max_nreg)
+ 			     MTX_MPOOL_FILE_BUCKET, 0, &htab[i].mtx_hash)) != 0)
+ 				return (ret);
+ 			SH_TAILQ_INIT(&htab[i].hash_bucket);
+-			atomic_init(&htab[i].hash_page_dirty, 0);
++			atomic_init_db(&htab[i].hash_page_dirty, 0);
+ 		}
+ 
+ 		/*
+@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ no_prealloc:
+ 		} else
+ 			hp->mtx_hash = mtx_base + (i % dbenv->mp_mtxcount);
+ 		SH_TAILQ_INIT(&hp->hash_bucket);
+-		atomic_init(&hp->hash_page_dirty, 0);
++		atomic_init_db(&hp->hash_page_dirty, 0);
+ #ifdef HAVE_STATISTICS
+ 		hp->hash_io_wait = 0;
+ 		hp->hash_frozen = hp->hash_thawed = hp->hash_frozen_freed = 0;
+diff --git a/src/mutex/mut_method.c b/src/mutex/mut_method.c
+index 09353b0..177353c 100644
+--- a/src/mutex/mut_method.c
++++ b/src/mutex/mut_method.c
+@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ atomic_compare_exchange(env, v, oldval, newval)
+ 	MUTEX_LOCK(env, mtx);
+ 	ret = atomic_read(v) == oldval;
+ 	if (ret)
+-		atomic_init(v, newval);
++		atomic_init_db(v, newval);
+ 	MUTEX_UNLOCK(env, mtx);
+ 
+ 	return (ret);
+diff --git a/src/mutex/mut_tas.c b/src/mutex/mut_tas.c
+index 106b161..fc4de9d 100644
+--- a/src/mutex/mut_tas.c
++++ b/src/mutex/mut_tas.c
+@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ __db_tas_mutex_init(env, mutex, flags)
+ 
+ #ifdef HAVE_SHARED_LATCHES
+ 	if (F_ISSET(mutexp, DB_MUTEX_SHARED))
+-		atomic_init(&mutexp->sharecount, 0);
++		atomic_init_db(&mutexp->sharecount, 0);
+ 	else
+ #endif
+ 	if (MUTEX_INIT(&mutexp->tas)) {
+@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ __db_tas_mutex_unlock(env, mutex)
+ 			F_CLR(mutexp, DB_MUTEX_LOCKED);
+ 			/* Flush flag update before zeroing count */
+ 			MEMBAR_EXIT();
+-			atomic_init(&mutexp->sharecount, 0);
++			atomic_init_db(&mutexp->sharecount, 0);
+ 		} else {
+ 			DB_ASSERT(env, sharecount > 0);
+ 			MEMBAR_EXIT();
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.4.patch b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.4.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3f9d658b5da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.4.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+diff -rc db-4.4.20.NC-old/os/os_flock.c db-4.4.20.NC/os/os_flock.c
+*** db-4.4.20.NC-old/os/os_flock.c	Mon Jun 20 16:59:01 2005
+--- db-4.4.20.NC/os/os_flock.c	Wed Jun  7 17:01:49 2006
+***************
+*** 36,41 ****
+--- 36,50 ----
+  
+  	DB_ASSERT(F_ISSET(fhp, DB_FH_OPENED) && fhp->fd != -1);
+  
++ #ifdef __CYGWIN__
++ 	/*
++ 	 * Windows file locking interferes with read/write operations, so we
++ 	 * map the ranges to an area past the end of the file.
++ 	 */
++ 	DB_ASSERT(offset < (off_t) 1 << 62);
++ 	offset += (off_t) 1 << 62;
++ #endif
++ 
+  #ifdef HAVE_FCNTL
+  	fl.l_start = offset;
+  	fl.l_len = 1;
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.5.patch b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.5.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3f0ee78a708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/cygwin-4.5.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+diff -rc db-4.5.20-orig/os/os_flock.c db-4.5.20/os/os_flock.c
+*** db-4.5.20-orig/os/os_flock.c	2006-10-13 12:36:12.000000000 +0200
+--- db-4.5.20/os/os_flock.c	2006-10-13 12:40:11.000000000 +0200
+***************
+*** 30,35 ****
+--- 30,44 ----
+  
+  	DB_ASSERT(dbenv, F_ISSET(fhp, DB_FH_OPENED) && fhp->fd != -1);
+  
++ #ifdef __CYGWIN__
++ 	/*
++ 	 * Windows file locking interferes with read/write operations, so we
++ 	 * map the ranges to an area past the end of the file.
++ 	 */
++ 	DB_ASSERT(dbenv, offset < (off_t) 1 << 62);
++ 	offset += (off_t) 1 << 62;
++ #endif
++ 
+  	fl.l_start = offset;
+  	fl.l_len = 1;
+  	fl.l_type = acquire ? F_WRLCK : F_UNLCK;
+Only in db-4.5.20/os: os_flock.c~
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-4.8.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-4.8.nix
index f631a032102..40869a865ae 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-4.8.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-4.8.nix
@@ -5,23 +5,5 @@ import ./generic.nix (args // rec {
   extraPatches = [ ./clang-4.8.patch ];
   sha256 = "0ampbl2f0hb1nix195kz1syrqqxpmvnvnfvphambj7xjrl3iljg0";
   branch = "4.8";
-  drvArgs.hardeningDisable = [ "format" ];
-
-  # https://community.oracle.com/thread/3952592
-  # this patch renames some sybols that conflict with libc++-3.8
-  # symbols: atomic_compare_exchange, atomic_init, store
-  drvArgs.prePatch = ''
-    substituteInPlace dbinc/db.in \
-      --replace '#define	store' '#define	store_db'
-
-    substituteInPlace dbinc/atomic.h \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-    substituteInPlace mp/*.c \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-    substituteInPlace mutex/*.c \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-  '';
+  drvArgs = { hardeningDisable = [ "format" ]; };
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-5.3.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-5.3.nix
index e2253259443..91adfa24b58 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-5.3.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/db-5.3.nix
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@ import ./generic.nix (args // rec {
   version = "5.3.28";
   sha256 = "0a1n5hbl7027fbz5lm0vp0zzfp1hmxnz14wx3zl9563h83br5ag0";
   branch = "5.3";
+  # https://community.oracle.com/thread/3952592
+  # this patch renames some sybols that conflict with libc++-3.8
+  # symbols: atomic_compare_exchange, atomic_init, store
+  extraPatches = [ ./clang-5.3.patch ];
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/generic.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/generic.nix
index 8e3eb5248e9..fdc828effdf 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/generic.nix
@@ -20,24 +20,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
 
   patches = extraPatches;
 
-  # https://community.oracle.com/thread/3952592
-  # this patch renames some sybols that conflict with libc++-3.8
-  # symbols: atomic_compare_exchange, atomic_init, store
-  prePatch = ''
-    substituteInPlace src/dbinc/db.in \
-      --replace '#define	store' '#define	store_db'
-
-    substituteInPlace src/dbinc/atomic.h \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-    substituteInPlace src/mp/*.c \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-    substituteInPlace src/mutex/*.c \
-      --replace atomic_compare_exchange atomic_compare_exchange_db \
-      --replace atomic_init atomic_init_db
-  '';
-
   configureFlags = [
     (if cxxSupport then "--enable-cxx" else "--disable-cxx")
     (if compat185 then "--enable-compat185" else "--disable-compat185")
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/db/register-race-fix.patch b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/register-race-fix.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bb05c966e5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/db/register-race-fix.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+diff -rc db-4.5.20-orig/env/env_register.c db-4.5.20/env/env_register.c
+*** db-4.5.20-orig/env/env_register.c	2006-09-09 16:29:04.000000000 +0200
+--- db-4.5.20/env/env_register.c	2007-05-16 21:13:27.000000000 +0200
+***************
+*** 255,260 ****
+--- 255,262 ----
+  			buf[nr - 1] = '\0';
+  		}
+  
++                 //sleep(3);
++ 
+  		pos = (off_t)lcnt * PID_LEN;
+  		if (REGISTRY_LOCK(dbenv, pos, 1) == 0) {
+  			if ((ret = REGISTRY_UNLOCK(dbenv, pos)) != 0)
+***************
+*** 361,366 ****
+--- 363,392 ----
+  	if (recovery_failed)
+  		goto err;
+  
++         //sleep(5);
++ 
++         /*
++          * Acquire an exclusive lock to prevent a race like this:
++          *
++          * 1) Process X is about to exit and process Y is just
++          *    starting.
++          * 2) Process Y reads X's slot.
++          * 3) Process X clears its slot.
++          * 4) Process Y sees that X's slot isn't cleared yet (since it
++          *    just read the old value).
++          * 5) Process X closes the registry, releases the lock on its
++          *    slot.
++          * 6) Process Y tries to acquire X's slot and succeeds, so it
++          *    concludes that X died and recovery is needed.
++          *
++          * A more efficient solution to this problem would be to let
++          * __envreg_add acquire the lock on a slot first, and *then*
++          * read the slot (instead of the other way around).  Then we
++          * wouldn't need the exclusive lock here.
++          */
++ 	if ((ret = REGISTRY_EXCL_LOCK(dbenv, 0)) != 0)
++ 		goto err;
++ 
+  	/*
+  	 * Why isn't an exclusive lock necessary to discard a DB_ENV handle?
+  	 *