sqlitebrowser

sqlitebrowser [options] [database_file]

database_file
    Path to the SQLite database file to open. If the file does not exist, the application will prompt to create a new database upon saving changes.

-h, --help
    Displays a brief help message with available command-line options and exits.

-v, --version
    Displays the application's version information and exits.

--in-memory
    Starts the application with a new, temporary in-memory database. Any changes made will not be saved persistently unless explicitly exported.

--browse
    Opens the application directly to the 'Browse Data' tab, displaying the contents of the first table found or an empty view if no tables exist.

--schema
    Opens the application directly to the 'Database Structure' tab, showing the schema details of the database including tables, indexes, and views.

--sql
    Opens the application directly to the 'Execute SQL' tab, ready for interactive SQL query input and execution.

--table <tablename>
    When opening a database, this option directs the application to the 'Browse Data' tab and attempts to select and display data from the specified tablename immediately.

--execute-sql <sql_script_file>
    Executes the SQL commands contained within the specified sql_script_file against the opened database upon startup. This is useful for automated setup or applying a series of modifications.

sqlitebrowser, officially known as DB Browser for SQLite (DB4S), is a high-quality, visual, open-source tool to create, design, and edit SQLite database files. It provides a comprehensive graphical user interface for users to perform various database operations without needing to write SQL commands manually. Key features include creating and compacting database files, creating, defining, modifying, and deleting tables, indexes, and records, browsing and searching data, importing and exporting data from various formats (like CSV, JSON), and executing SQL queries directly. It simplifies database management for both developers and casual users, offering an intuitive way to interact with SQLite databases.

While sqlitebrowser is highly versatile for SQLite databases, it is specifically designed for local SQLite files and does not natively connect to remote database servers (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server). For such connectivity, dedicated client tools for those specific database systems are required. Performance on extremely large databases (many gigabytes with millions of rows) might be slower for certain GUI operations compared to highly optimized command-line tools, though it generally handles large datasets well for interactive browsing.

DB Browser for SQLite is readily available and actively maintained for multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This ensures a consistent user experience and broad accessibility for developers and users working on diverse platforms.

The application supports a plugin architecture, allowing third-party developers to extend its functionality. This enables integration with other tools or the addition of custom features tailored to specific workflows, enhancing its versatility beyond its core capabilities.

Initially released in 2004 as SQLite Database Browser, the project aimed to provide a simple GUI for SQLite. Over the years, it evolved significantly in features and capabilities, undergoing a rename to SQLiteBrowser and eventually to its current official name, DB Browser for SQLite (DB4S), around 2014. This rebranding reflected its broader capabilities beyond just 'browsing' data. It has been continuously developed by a community of volunteers, gaining widespread popularity as a primary tool for SQLite database management across various operating systems.

sqlite3(1), mysql(1), psql(1)