Introduction
Tabularis is a desktop database management tool built with Tauri (Rust backend) and React (frontend). It natively supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and SQLite, and can be extended to any other database engine via its JSON-RPC plugin system.
What Tabularis Actually Does
- Connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and SQLite — including databases behind SSH tunnels.
- Browses schemas, tables, views, indexes, foreign keys, and stored procedures/functions.
- Runs SQL in a Monaco-based editor with live autocomplete on real table/column names.
- Edits data inline in a virtualized data grid with pending change tracking.
- Builds queries visually with a drag-and-drop canvas that generates SQL in real time.
- Generates ER diagrams from your live schema using the Dagre layout engine.
- Manages schema — creates tables, alters columns, adds indexes and foreign keys — with a DDL preview before applying.
- Generates AI SQL from natural language using OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
- Exports query results to CSV or JSON (streamed, cancellable).
- Dumps and imports databases to/from
.sqlor.zipfiles. - Extends via plugins: any executable that speaks JSON-RPC over stdin/stdout becomes a new database driver.
- Runs as an MCP server so external AI agents (Claude Desktop, Cursor) can query your local databases.
System Requirements
| Platform | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | 10.15+ | Universal Binary (Intel + Apple Silicon) |
| Windows | 10/11 | WebView2 required (pre-installed with Edge) |
| Linux | Ubuntu 20.04+ | Requires webkit2gtk-4.1 and libsecret-1 |
Linux dependency install
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libsecret-1-dev
# Arch
sudo pacman -S webkit2gtk libsecret
# Fedora
sudo dnf install webkit2gtk4.1-devel libsecret-devel
Quick Start
1. Install
Download the right package from GitHub Releases:
- macOS →
.dmg - Windows →
.msior.exe - Linux →
.AppImage,.deb, or.rpm
2. Create a connection
Click + in the sidebar (or Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + N). Fill in host, port, database, and credentials. If the database is in a private network, enable the SSH tunnel in the SSH tab. Click Test to verify before saving. The password is stored in the OS keychain — never in a file.
3. Start working
Once connected, the sidebar shows all schemas, tables, views, and routines. Double-click a table to open it in the data grid. Press Cmd/Ctrl + T for a new SQL editor tab.
Interface Overview
The UI has three fixed regions:
- Left sidebar — connection tree with schemas, tables, views, routines, and saved queries. Collapsible with
Cmd/Ctrl + B. - Tab bar — each open table or SQL editor is a tab, color-coded by connection.
- Main canvas — shows the active view: data grid, SQL editor, query builder, ER diagram, or schema editor.
Global Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | macOS | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Execute query | Cmd + F5 |
Ctrl + F5 |
| Execute query (in editor) | Cmd + Enter |
Ctrl + Enter |
| Tab switcher | Ctrl + Tab |
Ctrl + Tab |
| Monaco command palette | F1 |
F1 |
Local Data Storage
Tabularis stores all data locally. Nothing is sent to external servers except:
- Your chosen database host (the actual connections you make).
- GitHub API (
api.github.com) for update checks, if enabled. - Your configured AI provider endpoint, only when you explicitly trigger an AI feature.
| Data type | Location |
|---|---|
App config (config.json) |
~/Library/Application Support/tabularis/ (macOS) |
| Connection metadata | Same directory, connections.json |
| SSH profiles | Same directory, ssh_connections.json |
| Saved queries | Same directory, per-connection .sql files |
| Passwords / API keys | OS keychain only |
| Logs | ~/Library/Logs/tabularis/ (macOS) |
See Configuration for platform-specific paths.
Tabularis — main interface showing the sidebar, tab bar, and data grid.