sql-studio: Explore Databases with a Single-Binary SQL UI

Overview

SQL Studio is a single-binary database explorer that provides a browser-based interface for inspecting and querying different data sources. It supports local database and data files as well as connections to SQL servers, reducing the need to switch between database-specific tools.

It is useful for developers and data practitioners who want a lightweight way to examine tables, review metadata, and run ad hoc SQL. The project is distributed as a command-line application, with prebuilt installers, Nix, and Docker options.

Key Features

• Connects to SQLite, libSQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, DuckDB, ClickHouse, and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Opens local Parquet and CSV files alongside database sources.
• Shows database and table metadata in overview and tables pages.
• Provides a query interface for working directly with a connected data source.
• Supports an infinite-scroll rows view for browsing data.
• Includes SQL IntelliSense for custom queries.
• Runs as a single binary with a browser-based interface.

Use Cases

• A developer can inspect a local SQLite or DuckDB file without setting up a separate database client.
• A database administrator can review table metadata and browse records across supported server databases.
• An analyst can explore a CSV or Parquet file and run queries without first importing it into a database.
• A team can launch the UI in Docker to make a database connection accessible through a configured web address.

Getting Started

Install a prebuilt binary on macOS or Linux:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/frectonz/sql-studio/releases/download/0.1.53/sql-studio-installer.sh | sh

Then start a local SQLite database with sql-studio sqlite [sqlite_db]. See the README and documentation for other connection commands and installation options.

Alternatives

• whodb: WhoDB offers browser, desktop, and terminal interfaces plus optional AI queries, while SQL Studio focuses on a browser interface launched with one command.
• sqliter: SQLiter is limited to SQLite databases, while SQL Studio supports local files and remote SQL servers across multiple database systems.

Considerations

• Connecting to a remote database requires an appropriate connection string or credentials; the README examples show these as command-line arguments.
• Building from source requires building the UI first because its files are embedded in the Rust binary. The README provides the development setup steps.
• The supplied installation command uses version 0.1.53; check the releases page for current binaries and changes.