Ask HN: What’s the best GUI you’ve ever used for managing/querying databases?
30 comments
I’m happy with DBeaver as I have many databases of different engines that I have to connect to throughout the day.
I have a love/hate, but SQL Server Management Studio. Especially if you load a couple of the Redgate tools, it is insanely powerful and the intellisense completion is amazing.
I've used almost all of the major tools for other DBs, and they feel like toys or simple query runners in comparison. The biggest downside to SSMS is that it does feel and perform like the bloated, kitchen sink it is, but honestly, things that do more than run queries, like pgAdmin are just as slow or slower and don't offer nearly as nice of an experience.
I've used almost all of the major tools for other DBs, and they feel like toys or simple query runners in comparison. The biggest downside to SSMS is that it does feel and perform like the bloated, kitchen sink it is, but honestly, things that do more than run queries, like pgAdmin are just as slow or slower and don't offer nearly as nice of an experience.
Postico for Postgres on Mac
https://eggerapps.at/postico2/
https://eggerapps.at/postico2/
My use case is a bit different (I am a PM) but I found what pyCharm offers very useful for my use case (Postgres) . I don't create or manage DBs if that helps.
They have a tool called DataGrip as well [1]
[1] https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/
They have a tool called DataGrip as well [1]
[1] https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/
On linux (and windows/mac) there's BeeKeeper Studio [0]. They have a free 'Community Edition'.
NB: It's an electron app, but is performant IMHO
[0]: https://www.beekeeperstudio.io
NB: It's an electron app, but is performant IMHO
[0]: https://www.beekeeperstudio.io
I’m not sure if it’s okay to plug my project, but I work on Mathesar (https://github.com/centerofci/mathesar) which can be used as a Postgres GUI. We’re putting a lot of product/design effort into making it nice to use for non technical users.
Otherwise, I just use the command line.
Otherwise, I just use the command line.
Without a doubt DBeaver!
PgAdmin never got me out of the psql terminal but DBeaver has been a pleasure to use
PgAdmin never got me out of the psql terminal but DBeaver has been a pleasure to use
https://www.dbvis.com/ - been using it for I don't know how many years now. Just enough GUI, and most of what I would use an SQL cli for.
The worst would be pgAdmin. I tried it again this week and don’t understand why I need 7 clicks to access a table in the tree. Also I didn’t find how to actually show the content of a table. Nor how to execute a query.
If you’re on OSX I haven’t found any program better than Sequel Pro (sometimes referred to as Sequel pancakes). It’s one of a few programs that makes keeping a Mac around worth it.
I've tried a few, but given my workflows, I find the "built-in" database GUI capabilities in Jetbrains IDEs more than sufficient for my needs.
Nothing beats the freedom and universality of the command line or using APIs (with a small utility library) in a repl of the language of your choice.
I mean, you're not wrong: there is absolutely a big place for API/CLI support with DB tools, but in this specific instance, the OP specifically asked for a GUI, not CLI or APIs to roll their own.
If you're a MacOS user and your DB of choice is supported, this is my choice: https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/
If you're a Postgres user, pgAdmin had previously been my go to: https://www.pgadmin.org/
If you're a MacOS user and your DB of choice is supported, this is my choice: https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/
If you're a Postgres user, pgAdmin had previously been my go to: https://www.pgadmin.org/
If OP asked which cliff he should jump off, will you point to one? GUIs are written on top of DB APIs - in many cases, the same ones you can use. You can do anything with these tools. Given a DB viewing program, you are always experiencing someone else using these APIs for you. There will always be some feature you need. For many types of applications, there are no other choices except the GUI, but DBs are programmer tools, and they work brilliantly without gold-plated rigmarole.
Dude. Are you for real right now?
I work with data all day and have for 20+ years. I *STRONGLY PREFER* to develop my code in a UI and then later deploy it to the production infrastructure via CLI/API. I just cannot possibly fathom how you could seriously tell someone working with data that they should interact with their systems in a CLI/API way all the time; it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever, unless you are dealing with queries and their results that are not at all complex.
There is a place and a time for both paradigms and to suggest that we should direct someone away from their preferred use case is really over the top.
I work with data all day and have for 20+ years. I *STRONGLY PREFER* to develop my code in a UI and then later deploy it to the production infrastructure via CLI/API. I just cannot possibly fathom how you could seriously tell someone working with data that they should interact with their systems in a CLI/API way all the time; it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever, unless you are dealing with queries and their results that are not at all complex.
There is a place and a time for both paradigms and to suggest that we should direct someone away from their preferred use case is really over the top.
Yeah, but I did ask for GUIs for a reason. Other commenter understood the assignment.
What reason?
DBeaver. It just works, and for lots of DBs.
I use Sequel Ace on macOS.
I'm so used to it, thats it's one of the reasons I don't use Postgres LOL
I'm so used to it, thats it's one of the reasons I don't use Postgres LOL
I've been using TablePlus for some years now and really like it. Well designed and fast.
SQLiteStudio is the best I've ever seen. Also have used DBeaver and MySQL workbench.
Relational? DbVisualizer
Probably SecureCRT.
It’s a great ssh client.
Honorable mentions: popcorntime, transmission.
It’s a great ssh client.
Honorable mentions: popcorntime, transmission.
MongoDB compass
phpMyAdmin, what a great database tool. I have always missed it when working with postgres.
Idea Ultimate by far
HeidiSQL for me
microsoft access
You could then scale up to ODBC or SQL databases as time went on. It was part of that golden era of tools that did lots of useful things, and could be used by those with domain knowledge, right before .NET infected Microsoft.
If you needed to interface with specialized hardware (as I did a few times), you could use VBA or Delphi to do that work, and tie it into the back-end, while providing a good UI for the person operating the hardware.