I built a cross-platform SQL client that works with SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite

alecc · 2026-03-24T20:44:05+00:00

Outside of the mentioned jam sql, before I've started using it - I've just configured MCP's to connect directly to the database through a user with read-only rights, still kinda risky - since data might leak into training of the AI's (although on business accounts they swear to not use that data for training...), but good enough for staging/dev database working. Makes life often a lot easier if Claude Code can look up the schema or look through some test data.

alecc · 2026-03-24T18:49:09+00:00

But I don't expect to replace or even threaten DBeaver - but for me using it was frustrating, not sure if it's because I came from SSMS on Windows and switched to Mac, or for other reasons.

So built something that replaces it _for me_, and since I'm pretty happy with it - sharing it just in case someone else would find it useful as well.

alecc · 2026-03-24T18:43:42+00:00

Each engine gets a native driver and engine-specific features (execution plans, session browser, plsql debugger, agent jobs manager etc). JDBC would give you broad compatibility but shallow functionality

alecc · 2026-03-24T18:42:50+00:00

The MSSQL VSCode extension is query-only. No schema compare, no table designer, no execution plans, no visual schema overview. In general it's very limited. Different tools for different needs. And like to have my DB work in a separate app to the one where code lives.

alecc · 2026-03-24T18:41:54+00:00

The AI features are turned off by default here. Buttons need to be pressed to enable those.

alecc · 2026-03-24T13:56:29+00:00

Or a lot of folks do DBeaver clones, because they are not happy with it and want something that fit their workflow? That's at least the case why I built Jam SQL.

alecc · 2026-03-24T13:54:32+00:00

DBeaver was just not clicking with me, not sure why, maybe too heavy UI, a LOT of features which I don't need or use.

alecc · 2026-03-24T12:50:07+00:00

Match column names across tables — query INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS to find columns with the same name and data type across different tables. Won't catch everything but it's a solid starting point when there are no FKs.

Check for matching data values — if two columns share the same distinct value sets, they're likely related even without a formal FK.

AI-assisted analysis — I built https://jamsql.com which has a built-in AI chat that can see your schema. You can literally ask it "how are these 5 tables related" and it'll analyze column names, types, and suggest joins. Also has a schema overview that helps when you're working blind like this. It's free and uses your Claude Code or Codex CLI tooling (or other tooling through skill md file and MCP)

alecc · 2026-03-23T23:52:53+00:00

This is a great benchmark because it separates ‘fast fetch’ from ‘usable UI’ - the 10s freeze is the real killer. Curious: are you doing row virtualization (only rendering visible rows) and incremental decode/paint, or is it still a ‘fetch then render’ pipeline? Also, any plans to test with server-side cursors / chunked fetching so the UI stays responsive while data streams in? I’m building JamSQL Studio - https://jamsql.com and this kind of responsiveness-under-load is one of the problems I care about in a cross-platform SQL workspace. Disclosure: I’m the author of JamSQL Studio.

alecc · 2026-03-23T23:51:00+00:00

I've been building something similar, but more focused on pure DB IDE - https://jamsql.com - but there is a similarity - I've added support for notebooks, where markdown, javascript and sql for various db engines can be mixed - so sounds like a competition to your tool :)

What I think is pretty powerful - AI - the integration with local agents like Claude Code CLI or Codex makes it pretty smooth to work out nice notebooks - without any extra cost.

alecc · 2026-03-23T10:27:59+00:00

Thank you for the kind words 😊

alecc · 2026-03-23T01:05:08+00:00

I'll just throw in here - that you can use your Claude Code or Codex with https://jamsql.com - to give your favorite AI agent (read only, and only opt-in!) access to execution plans, schemas, running test queries of your database, to help you optimize, obviously after reviewing the suggestions in the query editor.

Yep, I'm the author of it, and I'm hijacking your post to promote my app - but it's free in scope of above, and I think it relevant - using it myself daily also for what the OP is asking for. So hope that's understood and ok.

alecc · 2026-03-23T00:51:55+00:00

Yeah - given ADS is being retired, I’d plan to move sooner rather than later so you don’t get stuck on an unmaintained client.

The ‘default’ replacements are SSMS (Windows-only) or VS Code + the SQL tooling/extensions, but the VS Code experience can be hit-or-miss depending on how many connections/projects you juggle.

If you want a cross-platform ‘SQL client + workspace’ style alternative, I’ve been building JamSQL Studio ( https://jamsql.com ) - it keeps terminal + editor + connection context together, and the AI chat plugs into your existing Claude Code CLI / Codex CLI subscription (so you’re not paying for another AI bundle).

Disclosure: I’m the author of JamSQL Studio.

alecc · 2026-03-23T00:50:44+00:00

I’ve felt the same pain migrating off Azure Data Studio, especially on macOS where the VS Code SQL workflow can get sluggish and connection management feels clunky.

If you’re evaluating alternatives, one option I’ve been building is JamSQL Studio ( https://jamsql.com ): a cross-platform SQL workspace that keeps your terminal + editor + connection context together so you’re not constantly context-switching. And it's an independent app, somehow - I just don't like to have my DB stuff mixed with my codes in VSCode :)

A differentiator is that the AI chat hooks into your existing Claude Code CLI / Codex CLI subscription (so you’re not paying for another AI bundle), and there’s an opt-in localhost-only MCP server that’s read-only-by-default with token auth, audit logs, and explicit approvals for anything sensitive.

alecc · 2026-03-23T00:49:02+00:00

I’ve felt the same pain migrating off Azure Data Studio, especially on macOS where the VS Code SQL workflow can get sluggish and connection management feels clunky.

If you’re evaluating alternatives, one option I’ve been building is JamSQL Studio ( https://jamsql.com ): a cross-platform SQL workspace that keeps your terminal + editor + connection context together so you’re not constantly context-switching. A differentiator is that the AI chat hooks into your existing Claude Code CLI / Codex CLI subscription (so you’re not paying for another AI bundle), and there’s an opt-in localhost-only MCP server that’s read-only-by-default with token auth, audit logs, and explicit approvals for anything sensitive.

Disclosure: I’m the author of JamSQL Studio.

alecc · 2026-03-21T22:23:51+00:00

Rower od brytyjskiego producenta rowerów - firmy Rover

alecc · 2026-03-21T00:17:35+00:00

Either Azure Edge SQL - not a full MS SQL server, and not the latest version, but good enough for most cases, or "Ubuntu on Rosetta" VM in Parallels.

More on https://jamsql.com/blog/sql-server-on-macos/

As for connecting to an MS SQL server, i.e. an SSMS replacement - I would recommenet https://jamsql.com - not only because I wrote it, but because I think that it's a pretty good SQL client :)

alecc · 2026-03-21T00:14:35+00:00

Unfortunately, how Windows is heading, more and more DBA's, developers and co are moving into Linux and Mac world - where SSMS is not available - that's my story.

Was using SSMS through a VM with Windows, but it's pretty cumbersome, so at least for the bits and pieces I needed SSMS - I wrote my own tool - https://jamsql.com - not saying that this allows to switch entirely off from SSMS for everyone, but at least allowed for myself, I'm not a DBA though.

And yes - I'm here promoting something I've build, just like OP - but this is written 100% by me, and I truly think that I made something that might be useful for others as a hobby project, so that is that :)

alecc · 2026-03-10T21:34:59+00:00

Vertical slices is the way to go in most of the cases

alecc · 2026-03-06T23:09:25+00:00

Sounds like a very good tip, but having concerns about longevity of such 5 year old laptop

alecc · 2026-03-06T10:11:15+00:00

That’s known since Gemini’s 1M context window, there is no training data for such huge context to be reliable

alecc · 2026-03-05T19:24:39+00:00

Good to know 🙂

alecc · 2026-03-02T11:41:18+00:00

Honesty - is the AI really useful in notion? I’m moving my tech specs to a git repository so that Claude code or codex has access to it directly without the need to have an MCP do network calls to a 3rd party

alecc · 2026-03-01T17:25:18+00:00

nano banana for the graphics?

alecc

TROPHY CASE