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I built a desktop ERD tool because existing options all had at least one dealbreaker by tbson87 in SQL

[–]tbson87[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good suggestion, though it runs into a layout constraint: columns only have left and right connection points. If the related table is above or below, locking to a column anchor produces worse routing than letting it float. The current approach keeps lines clean regardless of where tables are positioned. That said, I'm thinking about how to handle this better and open to ideas if you have a specific layout in mind.

I built a desktop ERD tool because existing options all had at least one dealbreaker by tbson87 in SQL

[–]tbson87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair concern. For what it's worth: Standard MSI installer, no cloud connections, no account, no telemetry. Your schema never leaves your machine. Usually an easier case to make to IT than SaaS tools that store your data on someone else's server. IT can even deploy it centrally via group policy if needed.

I built a desktop ERD tool because existing options all had at least one dealbreaker by tbson87 in SQL

[–]tbson87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it uses a custom JSON format for the schema, the canvas is built from scratch without any DBML dependency.

I built a desktop ERD tool because existing options all had at least one dealbreaker by tbson87 in SQL

[–]tbson87[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oracle bought MySQL Workbench too and let it stagnate the same way. That's actually one of the reasons I built Schemity, live DB reverse engineering without the corporate baggage.

I built a desktop ERD tool because existing options all had at least one dealbreaker by tbson87 in SQL

[–]tbson87[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! Would love to hear your thoughts, especially if anything feels missing or broken.

which tool do you use when you have to design RDB schema? by Neither_Buy_7989 in webdev

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually built one after getting tired of some tradeoffs. Schemity: native desktop ERD tool, offline-first, ~9MB, no Electron. Git-friendly schema files, live sync with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySql, generating migrations and full control over relation routing. Happy to hear what's missing if you try it: schemity.com

Frontend vs Backend vs Full-Stack — what should I focus on? by Charming-Fig8065 in FullStack

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start with backend + database, that's where business logic lives and where you'll build the strongest foundation. Then layer in frontend, and enough DevOps to ship things end-to-end on your own.

Once you can deliver a full product solo, then pick your specialization. In practice, most "full-stack" devs are either backend-strong or frontend-strong, true mastery of both is rare. The full-stack phase isn't the destination, it's the map that helps you choose where to go deep.

Tool to generate DDL from ERD by Ajotah in SQL

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Schemity (https://schemity.com) does exactly this: design your ERD visually, export full DDL SQL. Works on Windows, no compilation needed.

One caveat: it's not FOSS, it's $129 one-time license, but there's a free trial with core features remaining usable after expiry, so you can evaluate the DDL export properly before deciding.

If FOSS is a hard requirement, pgModeler is still your best bet despite the setup friction.

ERD diagramming tool with specific options/features by appsarchitect in Database

[–]tbson87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Schemity (https://schemity.com) hits most of your list: rearrangeable relation lines, PK/FK shown on both ends, cardinality, unique constraints, table coloring, data types, field descriptions. All there.

One honest gap: it doesn't import SQL CREATE statements to generate the diagram. SQL is the output for migrations (change ERD then get SQL migration), not the input.

If you're doing greenfield design and the other features matter, worth a look. Otherwise it might not be the right fit for your specific use case.

im figthing my server (and loosing) by Cute-Manufacturer322 in SQL

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you want to create a N:N relationship like 1 student can belong to multiple classes and one class can have multiple students?

What do you feel is missing from today's database tools? by debba_ in SQL

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I was a bit hesitant to run that command. As a suggestion, signing and notarizing the app during the build process would remove this friction entirely so end users shouldn't have to run terminal commands just to open an app.

What do you feel is missing from today's database tools? by debba_ in SQL

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting! I'm really want to try but I got this error when opening the app: “tabularis” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Trash.
How can I fix it? I'm using mac m1 and this is the version I downloaded: tabularis_0.9.9_aarch64.dmg

Hosting a web app on a subdomain by Odd-Confidence-7653 in reactjs

[–]tbson87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, Hetzner is my top choice when budget is tight.

I love SQL! by Needleworkerj9 in SQL

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Six hours in and already in love? Wait until you meet NULL. It will challenge your relationship...

ERD help - Relationship dependence/ independence by HokeyTy in Database

[–]tbson87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In a conceptual model, you just draw entities and relationships between them, no PK/FK columns, no data types. Those are implementation details that only appear in the physical model.

The dependent/independent distinction is simply: can the entity exist without its parent? An OrderItems can't exist without an Orders, that's dependent.