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This looks really nice! I'm building something similar but as a desktop tool (using Qt). There really seems to be a dearth of desktop SQL tools for data analyst

This looks really nice! I'm building something similar but as a desktop tool (using Qt). There really seems to be a dearth of desktop SQL tools for data analysts, as opposed to the myriad tools that support developers (Toad, Sequel Pro, Navicat). One thing I'm still trying to figure out is whether there is a market for this type of tool among business analysts/data scientists.

JPKab 11y ago
There is. My view is this: By the time I teach power users (at large companies) how to use tools like Microstrategy, it becomes clear that it would have been quicker just to teach them SQL. I think there's particular group you have to aim for: The group that are at large companies, doing sophisticated analysis of data, who don't know how to code, but WANT to build their own reports. This is the sweet spot. Most of the market is more geared towards super simple drag and drop for users who are more interested in getting a canned report to their boss each Monday. Those aren't going to be a market for this.
- infinite8s 11y ago
  That's the group I'm currently targeting (users who are fairly sophisticated in the types of analysis they can do with SQL, but can't code or only minimally in python/R). Do you think they would be more likely to go with a desktop solution than a hosted web solution? There's a number of startups in the space (Looker, Mode Analytics, Periscope, Chartio) but they are all externally hosted and so seem to target the types of small companies that already have their data in the cloud or are comfortable providing access to their internal databases. By the way, would it be possible to ask you a few questions? My contact info is in my profile if you are open.
  - JPKab 11y ago
    Yes, I'd definitely like to discuss with you.
- troels 11y ago
  Another vector might be to build a tool that allows programmers to build ad-hoc reports, and then hand it off to tech-savvy non-programmers. If the tool makes it easy to share/fork queries (I'm envisioning something like gist in an intranet), it would be a very gentle path for said non-programmers to ease into SQL.

JPKab 11y ago

There is. My view is this: By the time I teach power users (at large companies) how to use tools like Microstrategy, it becomes clear that it would have been quicker just to teach them SQL. I think there's particular group you have to aim for: The group that are at large companies, doing sophisticated analysis of data, who don't know how to code, but WANT to build their own reports. This is the sweet spot. Most of the market is more geared towards super simple drag and drop for users who are more interested in getting a canned report to their boss each Monday. Those aren't going to be a market for this.

infinite8s 11y ago
That's the group I'm currently targeting (users who are fairly sophisticated in the types of analysis they can do with SQL, but can't code or only minimally in python/R). Do you think they would be more likely to go with a desktop solution than a hosted web solution? There's a number of startups in the space (Looker, Mode Analytics, Periscope, Chartio) but they are all externally hosted and so seem to target the types of small companies that already have their data in the cloud or are comfortable providing access to their internal databases. By the way, would it be possible to ask you a few questions? My contact info is in my profile if you are open.
- JPKab 11y ago
  Yes, I'd definitely like to discuss with you.
troels 11y ago
Another vector might be to build a tool that allows programmers to build ad-hoc reports, and then hand it off to tech-savvy non-programmers. If the tool makes it easy to share/fork queries (I'm envisioning something like gist in an intranet), it would be a very gentle path for said non-programmers to ease into SQL.