LazySQL: Revolutionizing Terminal-Based Database Management

Tired of juggling bloated GUI tools and complex SQL commands? Discover how LazySQL transforms terminal workflows for database professionals.

The Database Management Dilemma

Database administration presents a universal challenge for developers:

• GUI tools consume excessive resources and launch slowly
• Command-line interfaces require memorizing intricate syntax
• Context switching disrupts workflow efficiency
• Multi-database environments demand disparate tools

LazySQL solves these pain points—an open-source terminal UI (TUI) tool inspired by Lazygit. It blends visual intuitiveness with command-line efficiency, supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MSSQL without leaving your terminal.

Core Functionality Explained

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Works seamlessly across:

• macOS
• Windows
• Linux

Efficiency Optimizations

• Vim keybindings for keyboard-centric navigation
• Tabbed interfaces for concurrent database operations
• Unified management of multiple database connections

Integrated SQL Editor

CTRL + E  // Open SQL editor  
CTRL + R  // Execute current statement  
CTRL + Space // Launch external editor (Linux)  

Data Interaction Features

• Visual table browsing with filtering
• Row-level CRUD operations
• Real-time data refreshes

Installation Guide

macOS (Homebrew)

brew tap jorgerojas26/lazysql  
brew install lazysql  

Go Environment

go install github.com/jorgerojas26/lazysql@latest  

Other Platforms

Download precompiled binaries from releases page:

OS	Method
Arch Linux	paru -S lazysql or yay -S lazysql
Windows	Direct .exe execution
Linux	Architecture-specific binaries

Configuration Essentials

Configuration paths vary by OS:

OS	Configuration Path
Windows	%APPDATA%\lazysql\config.toml
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/lazysql/config.toml
Linux	$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/lazysql/config.toml

Sample Configuration:

[[database]]  
Name = 'Production DB'  
Provider = 'postgres'  
URL = 'postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/prod_db'  
Commands = [  
  { Command = 'ssh -tt bastion -L 5432:localhost:5432', WaitForPort = '5432' }  
]  

[application]  
DefaultPageSize = 100  
DisableSidebar = false  

Practical Workflow Guide

Establishing Connections

1. Launch with lazysql
2. Press n to create new connection
3. Enter name and URL (e.g., mysql://user:pass@localhost/dbname)
4. Press Enter to connect

Executing Queries

1. Press Ctrl+E to open SQL editor
2. Type query (syntax highlighting enabled)
3. Press Ctrl+R to execute
4. Toggle between results/editor with /

Table Operations

Action	Shortcut	Description
Add Row	o	Insert new record
Edit Cell	c	Modify selected content
Delete Row	d	Remove current record
Save Changes	Ctrl+S	Commit modifications
Refresh Data	R	Reload table content
Apply Filter	/	Enter WHERE conditions

Remote Connection Example

[[database]]  
Name = 'K8s Database'  
Provider = 'postgres'  
URL = 'postgres://user:pass@localhost:${port}/k8s_db'  
Commands = [  
  { Command = 'ssh -tt bastion -L 6443:localhost:6443', WaitForPort = '6443' },  
  { Command = 'kubectl port-forward svc/postgres ${port}:5432', WaitForPort = '${port}' }  
]  

This configuration:

1. Establishes SSH tunnel to bastion host
2. Configures Kubernetes port forwarding
3. Automates dynamic port allocation via ${port}

Comprehensive Keybinding Reference

Global Shortcuts

Key	Action
q	Quit application
Ctrl+E	Open SQL editor
Backspace	Return to connections
?	Show help

Table Navigation

Key	Action
>	Next page
<	Previous page
K	Sort ascending
J	Sort descending
H	Switch to tree view
Ctrl+[	Previous tab
Ctrl+]	Next tab
X	Close active tab

Tree View Controls

Key	Action
L	Focus table panel
G	Jump to last node
g	Jump to first node
Ctrl+U	Scroll up 5 items
Ctrl+D	Scroll down 5 items

Supported Database Systems

• ✅ MySQL
• ✅ PostgreSQL
• ✅ SQLite
• ✅ MSSQL (SQL Server)
• 🚧 MongoDB (in development)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who benefits most from LazySQL?

Ideal users include:

• Terminal-centric developers
• DBAs managing heterogeneous environments
• Keyboard-focused power users
• Remote server administrators

How do I create tables?

While direct TUI table creation isn’t supported:

1. Press Ctrl+E to open SQL editor
2. Enter CREATE TABLE statement
3. Execute with Ctrl+R
4. Press R to refresh schema view

How are data changes saved?

Explicit saving prevents accidental modifications:

1. After edits, press Ctrl+S
2. Verify changes in confirmation prompt
3. Changes commit to database upon confirmation

What’s the SQLite connection syntax?

Use file-based paths:

file:database.sqlite  

Or absolute paths:

/path/to/database.sqlite  

Why use WaitForPort?

This ensures:

1. SSH tunnels establish completely
2. Port forwards activate before connections
3. Avoids premature connection attempts

Development Roadmap

Future enhancements include:

• Expanded NoSQL database support
• Visual schema modification tools
• Customizable keybinding profiles
• Table relationship visualizations
• Query history management

Competitive Advantages

Feature Comparison

Feature	GUI Tools	SQL CLI	LazySQL
Launch Speed	Slow	Fast	Instant
Resource Usage	High	Low	Minimal
Learning Curve	Shallow	Steep	Gradual
Cross-DB Support	Partial	Full	Unified

Unique Benefits

1. Terminal Integration: Eliminates environment switching
2. Keyboard Efficiency: Full operation without mouse
3. Lightweight: Go-compiled with zero dependencies
4. Extensible: Custom pre-connection commands
5. Open Source: Community-driven MIT-licensed project

Conclusion: The Future of Terminal Database Management

LazySQL redefines database administration by:

• Eliminating GUI tool bloat
• Simplifying complex SQL operations
• Unifying multi-database workflows

For developers, DBAs, and sysadmins, LazySQL delivers unprecedented terminal efficiency. Its philosophy remains simple: database management should be intuitive, keyboard-driven, and resource-efficient.

Project Repository: https://github.com/jorgerojas26/lazysql
Install today and transform your terminal database workflow.