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Dbeaver is the best FOSS database UI tool hands down. I've done a lot of searching and haven't found anything close. Managed to convert my whole office to it in

Dbeaver is the best FOSS database UI tool hands down. I've done a lot of searching and haven't found anything close. Managed to convert my whole office to it in a matter of months. Favorite features: Well integrated ER diagrams that let you quickly see parts of the db related to current table, or the whole thing if you want. SQL generation from structure or data edits. Great for cranking out DB migrations like a boss. Ability to maintain many database connections at once, and support for doing stuff before/after connecting which we widely abuse to setup SSH and VPN connections. Very liberal database support. My original search for a tool like DBeaver was from the need to connect to MySQL, Postgres, and SQL Server and not wanting to use a bunch of different tools. DBeaver supports roughly anything Java supports, which is everything. Wide OS support. Good luck finding another tool that can connect to MS SQL Server on MacOs that isn't garbage or money. The icon is also adorable The only downside is a bit of classic FOSS UI clunk. Not nearly as rediculous as Eclipse or Blender or the like, but it takes a few days to get comfortable.

wink 8y ago
Just installed it for the first time in a few years. - Again I wonder why it doesn't show the tables first, I have to go through Schemas -> Public. - 480 MB of RES RAM, I'm connected to one smallish Postgres DB. - I can't even find "just show me the contents of the table, like 'SELECT * FROM'. I know, maybe it's tailored for Enterprise Database Architects, but this is my smoke test for a DB GUIs: "How long and how many clicks does it take so that it provides more value than: 'psql; \dt+; SELECT * FROM X;'"
- spricket 8y ago
  Maybe I've been jaded by SSMS and Mysql Management Studio heh. DBeaver actually has a better UI than most DB tools I've used, even though that's still not saying a lot. Mouse over the buttons for an excessive amount of time and the tooltips will tell ya what they do. Double click a table and go to "data" tab to see contents. Schemas ->public is just a side effect of supporting a lot of different databases. Many support schemas Ram is because default java heap size, you could probably change launch params to get it much lower though. On all counts other DB tools I've used are just as obtuse and burn tons of resources. Most are written in Java or another high-level language because it's nigh impossible to get DB drivers for a ton of different databases working together in C. DBeaver is basically leveraging JDBC for what it was designed for
  - wink 8y ago
    I don't know those 2, but I like Sequel Pro and pgadmin. And yeah, I found "data" and maybe reading the manual would even let me somehow get there quicker. Still, I don't remember ever working with Postgres (or Oracle) in whatever role or project and not needing the "data" view 10 times as often as the schemas or other stuff :)
    - spricket 8y ago
      I agree completely. The UI is kinda hokey but I still love it because I've seen so much worse. Try giving it a few weeks, as you need the more advanced stuff you'll learn where the bodies are buried and it becomes semi pleasant to use
  - h1d 8y ago
    My workflow is just too used to the easiness of using SequelPro, I can't live using any of "heavy" clients, not even DataGrip which is unfortunate as I cannot leave using MySQL. Closest thing that works for me is TablePlus but the UI smoothness is still rough around the edges.
- mritchie712 8y ago
  I have this same smoke test and it's one of the reasons we built "slash commands" into SeekWell (https://seekwell.io/ https://seekwell.io/). If you type "/show" (or even just "/s") you get a list of tables that will be filtered down as you type. Once you select a table it will autocomplete a SELECT statement and return the results. It also works for things like adding a WHERE condition. The goal is to make it so you never have to leave your keyboard, but also never need to type out menial SQL. Here's a 30 seconds video showing how it works. https://www.useloom.com/share/0e0b79b0b8304035af4bb15552abc32c https://www.useloom.com/share/0e0b79b0b8304035af4bb15552abc3...
  - spricket 8y ago
    DBeaver has some basic autocomplete that's frequently useful. Nothing super powerful but hitting shift enter(shortcut may be different off Mac) when on text pane at top of data tab will help you select cold easier

wink 8y ago

Just installed it for the first time in a few years. - Again I wonder why it doesn't show the tables first, I have to go through Schemas -> Public. - 480 MB of RES RAM, I'm connected to one smallish Postgres DB. - I can't even find "just show me the contents of the table, like 'SELECT * FROM'. I know, maybe it's tailored for Enterprise Database Architects, but this is my smoke test for a DB GUIs: "How long and how many clicks does it take so that it provides more value than: 'psql; \dt+; SELECT * FROM X;'"

spricket 8y ago
Maybe I've been jaded by SSMS and Mysql Management Studio heh. DBeaver actually has a better UI than most DB tools I've used, even though that's still not saying a lot. Mouse over the buttons for an excessive amount of time and the tooltips will tell ya what they do. Double click a table and go to "data" tab to see contents. Schemas ->public is just a side effect of supporting a lot of different databases. Many support schemas Ram is because default java heap size, you could probably change launch params to get it much lower though. On all counts other DB tools I've used are just as obtuse and burn tons of resources. Most are written in Java or another high-level language because it's nigh impossible to get DB drivers for a ton of different databases working together in C. DBeaver is basically leveraging JDBC for what it was designed for
- wink 8y ago
  I don't know those 2, but I like Sequel Pro and pgadmin. And yeah, I found "data" and maybe reading the manual would even let me somehow get there quicker. Still, I don't remember ever working with Postgres (or Oracle) in whatever role or project and not needing the "data" view 10 times as often as the schemas or other stuff :)
  - spricket 8y ago
    I agree completely. The UI is kinda hokey but I still love it because I've seen so much worse. Try giving it a few weeks, as you need the more advanced stuff you'll learn where the bodies are buried and it becomes semi pleasant to use
- h1d 8y ago
  My workflow is just too used to the easiness of using SequelPro, I can't live using any of "heavy" clients, not even DataGrip which is unfortunate as I cannot leave using MySQL. Closest thing that works for me is TablePlus but the UI smoothness is still rough around the edges.
mritchie712 8y ago
I have this same smoke test and it's one of the reasons we built "slash commands" into SeekWell (https://seekwell.io/ https://seekwell.io/). If you type "/show" (or even just "/s") you get a list of tables that will be filtered down as you type. Once you select a table it will autocomplete a SELECT statement and return the results. It also works for things like adding a WHERE condition. The goal is to make it so you never have to leave your keyboard, but also never need to type out menial SQL. Here's a 30 seconds video showing how it works. https://www.useloom.com/share/0e0b79b0b8304035af4bb15552abc32c https://www.useloom.com/share/0e0b79b0b8304035af4bb15552abc3...
- spricket 8y ago
  DBeaver has some basic autocomplete that's frequently useful. Nothing super powerful but hitting shift enter(shortcut may be different off Mac) when on text pane at top of data tab will help you select cold easier