SQLPad — Self-Hosted SQL Editor with Visualizations

Introduction

SQLPad is a self-hosted web application that provides a SQL query editor with built-in charting. It connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, ClickHouse, and several other databases, giving teams a shared workspace for writing, running, and visualizing queries without installing desktop tools.

What SQLPad Does

• Provides a browser-based SQL editor with syntax highlighting and auto-completion
• Connects to multiple database engines through a unified interface
• Renders query results as tables, bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, and more
• Supports multi-user access with query sharing and connection-level permissions
• Stores query history and saved queries for team collaboration

Architecture Overview

SQLPad is a Node.js application with a React frontend. The server manages database connections, executes queries through native drivers, and stores metadata (users, queries, connections) in an embedded SQLite or configurable backend store. The frontend renders the editor using CodeMirror and charts using a charting library, all served from the same process.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Run as a Docker container or install via npm on any Node.js-capable host
• Configure database connections through the web UI or environment variables
• Set SQLPAD_ADMIN and SQLPAD_ADMIN_PASSWORD to create the initial admin account
• Enable HTTPS by providing TLS certificate paths or placing behind a reverse proxy
• Authenticate users via local accounts, LDAP, OIDC, or SAML integrations

Key Features

• Support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, ClickHouse, Presto, Cassandra, and more
• Interactive chart builder that turns query results into visualizations with a few clicks
• Query sharing with link-based access and connection-level permissions
• Scheduled query execution with email delivery of results
• Lightweight footprint suitable for small teams and homelab deployments

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Metabase — richer BI features and dashboards; SQLPad is simpler and more SQL-focused
• Redash — similar query-and-visualize workflow but heavier to deploy; SQLPad is lighter
• DBeaver — desktop application; SQLPad is web-based and shareable across the team
• Apache Superset — enterprise-grade exploration platform; SQLPad is quick to set up
• pgAdmin — PostgreSQL-only admin tool; SQLPad supports multiple database engines

FAQ

Q: Is SQLPad still actively maintained? A: The project is in maintenance mode. It remains functional and receives security patches, but new features are not actively being added.

Q: Can I restrict which databases a user can query? A: Yes. Connections can be assigned to specific users or roles, so each person only sees the databases they are authorized to access.

Q: Does SQLPad support parameterized or templated queries? A: Yes. You can define query parameters using mustache-style templates that prompt for input when running the query.

Q: How does SQLPad store its own data? A: By default it uses an embedded SQLite database. You can also configure it to use PostgreSQL or MySQL as its backend store.

Sources

• https://github.com/sqlpad/sqlpad
• https://sqlpad.github.io/sqlpad/