usql is a universal command-line interface for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle Database, SQLite3, Microsoft SQL Server, and many other databases including NoSQL and non-relational databases!

usql provides a simple way to work with SQL and NoSQL databases via a command-line inspired by PostgreSQL's psql. usql supports most of the core psql features, such as variables, backticks, backslash commands and has additional features that psql does not, such as multiple database support, copying between databases, syntax highlighting, context-based completion, and terminal graphics.

Database administrators and developers that would prefer to work with a tool like psql with non-PostgreSQL databases, will find usql intuitive, easy-to-use, and a great replacement for the command-line clients/tools for other databases.

Installing

usql can be installed via Release, via Homebrew, via AUR, [via Scoop][], via Go, or via Docker:

Installing via Release

1. Download a release for your platform
2. Extract the usql or usql.exe file from the .tar.bz2 or .zip file
3. Move the extracted executable to somewhere on your $PATH (Linux/macOS) or %PATH% (Windows)

Installing via Homebrew (macOS and Linux)

Install usql from the xo/xo tap in the usual way with the brew command:

# install usql with most drivers
$ brew install xo/xo/usql

Support for ODBC databases is available through the --with-odbc install flag:

# add xo tap
$ brew tap xo/xo

# install usql with odbc support
$ brew install --with-odbc usql

Installing via AUR (Arch Linux)

Install usql from the Arch Linux AUR in the usual way with the yay command:

# install usql with most drivers
$ yay -S usql

Alternately, build and install using makepkg:

$ git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/usql.git && cd usql
$ makepkg -si
==> Making package: usql 0.12.10-1 (Fri 26 Aug 2022 05:56:09 AM WIB)
==> Checking runtime dependencies...
==> Checking buildtime dependencies...
==> Retrieving sources...
  -> Downloading usql-0.12.10.tar.gz...
...

Installing via Scoop (Windows)

Install usql using Scoop:

# Optional: Needed to run a remote script the first time
> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

# install scoop if not already installed
> irm get.scoop.sh | iex

# install usql with scoop
> scoop install usql

Installing via Go

Install usql in the usual Go fashion:

# install latest usql version with base drivers
$ go install github.com/xo/usql@latest

# alternately, install usql with most drivers (see below for info about build tags)
$ go install -tags most github.com/xo/usql@latest

See below for information on usql build tags.

Installing via Docker

An official container image (docker.io/usql/usql) is maintained by the usql team, and can be used with Docker, Podman, or other container runtime.

Install usql with Docker, Podman, or other container runtime:

# run interactive shell and mount the $PWD/data directory as a volume for use
# within the container
$ docker run --rm -it --volume $(pwd)/data:/data docker.io/usql/usql:latest sqlite3://data/test.db
Trying to pull docker.io/usql/usql:latest...
Getting image source signatures
Copying blob af48168d69d8 done   |
Copying blob efc2b5ad9eec skipped: already exists
Copying config 917ceb411d done   |
Writing manifest to image destination
Connected with driver sqlite3 (SQLite3 3.45.1)
Type "help" for help.

sq:data/test.db=> \q

# run postgres locally
$ docker run --detach --rm --name=postgres --publish=5432:5432 --env=POSTGRES_PASSWORD=P4ssw0rd docker.io/usql/postgres

# connect to local postgres instance
$ docker run --rm --network host -it docker.io/usql/usql:latest postgres://postgres:P4ssw0rd@localhost
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 16.3 (Debian 16.3-1.pgdg120+1))
Type "help" for help.

pg:postgres@localhost=> \q

# run specific usql version
$ docker run --rm -it docker.io/usql/usql:0.19.3

Building

When building usql out-of-the-box with go build or go install, only the base drivers for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite3, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, CSVQ will be included in the build:

# build/install with base drivers (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite3, Microsoft SQL Server,
# Oracle, CSVQ)
$ go install github.com/xo/usql@master

Other databases can be enabled by specifying the build tag for their database driver.

# build/install with base, Avatica, and ODBC drivers
$ go install -tags 'avatica odbc' github.com/xo/usql@master

For every build tag <driver>, there is also a no_<driver> build tag that will disable the driver:

# build/install most drivers, excluding Avatica, Couchbase, and PostgreSQL
$ go install -tags 'most no_avatica no_couchbase no_postgres' github.com/xo/usql@master

By specifying the build tags most or all, the build will include most, and all SQL drivers, respectively:

# build/install with most drivers (excludes CGO drivers and problematic drivers)
$ go install -tags most github.com/xo/usql@master

# build/install all drivers (includes CGO drivers and problematic drivers)
$ go install -tags all github.com/xo/usql@master

Database Support

usql works with all Go standard library compatible SQL drivers supported by github.com/xo/dburl.

The list of drivers that usql was built with can be displayed with the \drivers command:

$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/xo/usql

# build excluding the base drivers, and including cassandra and moderncsqlite
$ go build -tags 'no_postgres no_oracle no_sqlserver no_sqlite3 cassandra moderncsqlite'

# show built driver support
$ ./usql -c '\drivers'
Available Drivers:
  cql [ca, scy, scylla, datastax, cassandra]
  memsql (mysql) [me]
  moderncsqlite [mq, sq, file, sqlite, sqlite3, modernsqlite]
  mysql [my, maria, aurora, mariadb, percona]
  tidb (mysql) [ti]
  vitess (mysql) [vt]

The above shows that usql was built with only the mysql, cassandra (ie, cql), and moderncsqlite drivers. The output above reflects information about the drivers available to usql, specifically the internal driver name, its primary URL scheme, the driver's available scheme aliases (shown in [...]), and the real/underlying driver (shown in (...)) for wire compatible drivers.

Supported Database Schemes and Aliases

The following are the Go SQL drivers that usql supports, the associated database, scheme / build tag, and scheme aliases:

^† Requires CGO
^‡ Wire compatible (see respective driver)

Any of the protocol schemes/aliases above can be used in conjunction when connecting to a database via the command-line or with the \connect and \copy commands:

# connect to a vitess database:
$ usql vt://user:pass@host:3306/mydatabase

$ usql
(not connected)=> \c vitess://user:pass@host:3306/mydatabase

$ usql
(not connected)=> \copy csvq://. pg://localhost/ 'select * ....' 'myTable'

See the section below on connecting to databases for further details building DSNs/URLs for use with usql.

Using

After installing, usql can be used similarly to the following:

# connect to a postgres database
$ usql postgres://booktest@localhost/booktest

# connect to an oracle database
$ usql oracle://user:pass@host/oracle.sid

# connect to a postgres database and run the commands contained in script.sql
$ usql pg://localhost/ -f script.sql

Command-line Options

Supported command-line options:

$ usql --help
usql, the universal command-line interface for SQL databases

Usage:
  usql [flags]... [DSN]

Arguments:
  DSN   database url or connection name

Flags:
  -c, --command COMMAND                     run only single command (SQL or internal) and exit
  -f, --file FILE                           execute commands from file and exit
  -w, --no-password                         never prompt for password
  -X, --no-init                             do not execute initialization scripts (aliases: --no-rc --no-psqlrc --no-usqlrc)
  -o, --out FILE                            output file
  -W, --password                            force password prompt (should happen automatically)
  -1, --single-transaction                  execute as a single transaction (if non-interactive)
  -v, --set NAME=VALUE                      set variable NAME to VALUE (see \set command, aliases: --var --variable)
  -N, --cset NAME=DSN                       set named connection NAME to DSN (see \cset command)
  -P, --pset VAR=ARG                        set printing option VAR to ARG (see \pset command)
  -F, --field-separator FIELD-SEPARATOR     field separator for unaligned and CSV output (default "|" and ",")
  -R, --record-separator RECORD-SEPARATOR   record separator for unaligned and CSV output (default \n)
  -T, --table-attr TABLE-ATTR               set HTML table tag attributes (e.g., width, border)
  -A, --no-align                            unaligned table output mode
  -H, --html                                HTML table output mode
  -t, --tuples-only                         print rows only
  -x, --expanded                            turn on expanded table output
  -z, --field-separator-zero                set field separator for unaligned and CSV output to zero byte
  -0, --record-separator-zero               set record separator for unaligned and CSV output to zero byte
  -J, --json                                JSON output mode
  -C, --csv                                 CSV output mode
  -G, --vertical                            vertical output mode
  -q, --quiet                               run quietly (no messages, only query output)
      --config string                       config file
  -V, --version                             output version information, then exit
  -?, --help                                show this help, then exit

Connecting to Databases

usql opens a database connection by parsing a URL and passing the resulting connection string to a database driver. Database connection strings (aka "data source name" or DSNs) have the same parsing rules as URLs, and can be passed to usql via command-line, or to the \connect, \c, and \copy commands.

Database connections can be defined with the \cset command or in the config.yaml configuration file.

Database Connection Strings

Database connection strings look like the following:

  driver+transport://user:pass@host/dbname?opt1=a&opt2=b
  driver:/path/to/file
  /path/to/file
  name

Where the above are:

^± Some databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server, or Oracle Database support a path component (ie, /dbname) in the form of /instance/dbname, where /instance is the optional service identifier (aka "SID") or database instance

Driver Aliases

usql supports the same driver names and aliases as the dburl package. Databases have at least one or more aliases. See dburl's scheme documentation for a list of all supported aliases.

Short Aliases

All database drivers have a two character short form that is usually the first two letters of the database driver. For example, pg for postgres, my for mysql, ms for sqlserver, or for oracle, or sq for sqlite3.

Passing Driver Options

Driver options are specified as standard URL query options in the form of ?opt1=a&opt2=b. Refer to the relevant database driver's documentation for available options.

Paths on Disk

If a URL does not have a driver: scheme, usql will check if it is a path on disk. If the path exists, usql will attempt to use an appropriate database driver to open the path.

When the path is a Unix Domain Socket, usql will attempt to open it with the MySQL driver. When the path is a directory, usql will attempt to open it using the PostgreSQL driver. And, lastly, when the path is a regular file, usql will attempt to open the file using the SQLite3 or DuckDB drivers.

Driver Defaults

As with URLs, most components in the URL are optional and many components can be left out. usql will attempt connecting using defaults where possible:

# connect to postgres using the local $USER and the unix domain socket in /var/run/postgresql
$ usql pg://

See the relevant documentation on database drivers for more information.

Connection Examples

The following are example connection strings and additional ways to connect to databases using usql:

# connect to a postgres database
$ usql pg://user:pass@host/dbname
$ usql pgsql://user:pass@host/dbname
$ usql postgres://user:pass@host:port/dbname
$ usql pg://
$ usql /var/run/postgresql
$ usql pg://user:pass@host/dbname?sslmode=disable # Connect without SSL

# connect to a mysql database
$ usql my://user:pass@host/dbname
$ usql mysql://user:pass@host:port/dbname
$ usql my://
$ usql /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock

# connect to a sqlserver database
$ usql sqlserver://user:pass@host/instancename/dbname
$ usql ms://user:pass@host/dbname
$ usql ms://user:pass@host/instancename/dbname
$ usql mssql://user:pass@host:port/dbname
$ usql ms://

# connect to a sqlserver database using Windows domain authentication
$ runas /user:ACME\wiley /netonly "usql mssql://host/dbname/"

# connect to a oracle database
$ usql or://user:pass@host/sid
$ usql oracle://user:pass@host:port/sid
$ usql or://

# connect to a cassandra database
$ usql ca://user:pass@host/keyspace
$ usql cassandra://host/keyspace
$ usql cql://host/
$ usql ca://

# connect to a sqlite database that exists on disk
$ usql dbname.sqlite3

# Note: when connecting to a SQLite database, if the "driver://" or
# "driver:" scheme/alias is omitted, the file must already exist on disk.
#
# if the file does not yet exist, the URL must incorporate file:, sq:, sqlite3:,
# or any other recognized sqlite3 driver alias to force usql to create a new,
# empty database at the specified path:
$ usql sq://path/to/dbname.sqlite3
$ usql sqlite3://path/to/dbname.sqlite3
$ usql file:/path/to/dbname.sqlite3

# connect to a adodb ole resource (windows only)
$ usql adodb://Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0/myfile.mdb
$ usql "adodb://Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0/?Extended+Properties=\"Text;HDR=NO;FMT=Delimited\""

# connect to a named connection in $HOME/.config/usql/config.yaml
$ cat $HOME/.config/usql/config.yaml
connections:
  my_named_connection: sqlserver://user:pass@localhost/
$ usql my_named_connection

# connect with ODBC driver (requires building with odbc tag)
$ cat /etc/odbcinst.ini
[DB2]
Description=DB2 driver
Driver=/opt/db2/clidriver/lib/libdb2.so
FileUsage = 1
DontDLClose = 1

[PostgreSQL ANSI]
Description=PostgreSQL ODBC driver (ANSI version)
Driver=psqlodbca.so
Setup=libodbcpsqlS.so
Debug=0
CommLog=1
UsageCount=1

# connect to db2, postgres databases using odbc config above
$ usql odbc+DB2://user:pass@localhost/dbname
$ usql odbc+PostgreSQL+ANSI://user:pass@localhost/dbname?TraceFile=/path/to/trace.log

See the section on connection variables for information on defining connection names.

Executing Queries and Commands

The interactive interpreter reads queries and backslash meta (\) commands, sending the query to the connected database:

$ usql sqlite://example.sqlite3
Connected with driver sqlite3 (SQLite3 3.17.0)
Type "help" for help.

sq:example.sqlite3=> create table test (test_id int, name string);
CREATE TABLE
sq:example.sqlite3=> insert into test (test_id, name) values (1, 'hello');
INSERT 1
sq:example.sqlite3=> select * from test;
  test_id | name
+---------+-------+
        1 | hello
(1 rows)

sq:example.sqlite3=> select * from test
sq:example.sqlite3-> \p
select * from test
sq:example.sqlite3-> \g
  test_id | name
+---------+-------+
        1 | hello
(1 rows)

sq:example.sqlite3=> \c postgres://booktest@localhost
error: pq: 28P01: password authentication failed for user "booktest"
Enter password:
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 9.6.6)
pg:booktest@localhost=> select * from authors;
  author_id |      name
+-----------+----------------+
          1 | Unknown Master
          2 | blah
          3 | foobar
(3 rows)

pg:booktest@localhost=>

Commands may accept one or more parameter, and can be quoted using either ' or ". Command parameters may also be backticked.

Backslash Commands

usql supports interleaved backslash (\) meta commands to modify or alter the way that usql interprets queries, formats its output, and changes the resulting interactive flow.

(not connected)=> \c postgres://user:pass@localhost
pg:user@localhost=> select * from my_table \G

Available backslash meta commands can be displayed with \?:

$ usql
Type "help" for help.

(not connected)=> \?
General
  \q                                quit usql
  \quit                             alias for \q
  \copyright                        show usage and distribution terms for usql
  \drivers                          show database drivers available to usql

Help
  \? [commands]                     show help on usql's meta (backslash) commands
  \? options                        show help on usql command-line options
  \? variables                      show help on special usql variables

Connection
  \c DSN or \c NAME                 connect to dsn or named database connection
  \c DRIVER PARAMS...               connect to database with driver and parameters
  \connect                          alias for \c
  \Z                                close (disconnect) database connection
  \disconnect                       alias for \Z
  \password [USER]                  change password for user
  \passwd                           alias for \password
  \conninfo                         display information about the current database connection

Query Execute
  \g [(OPTIONS)] [FILE] or ;        execute query (and send results to file or |pipe)
  \go                               alias for \g
  \G [(OPTIONS)] [FILE]             as \g, but forces vertical output mode
  \ego                              alias for \G
  \gx [(OPTIONS)] [FILE]            as \g, but forces expanded output mode
  \gexec                            execute query and execute each value of the result
  \gset [PREFIX]                    execute query and store results in usql variables
  \bind [PARAM]...                  set query parameters
  \timing [on|off]                  toggle timing of commands

Query View
  \crosstab [(OPTIONS)] [COLUMNS]   execute query and display results in crosstab
  \crosstabview                     alias for \crosstab
  \xtab                             alias for \crosstab
  \chart CHART [(OPTIONS)]          execute query and display results as a chart
  \watch [(OPTIONS)] [INTERVAL]     execute query every specified interval

Query Buffer
  \e [-raw|-exec] [FILE] [LINE]     edit the query buffer, raw (non-interpolated) buffer, the
                                    exec buffer, or a file with external editor
  \edit                             alias for \e
  \p [-raw|-exec]                   show the contents of the query buffer, the raw
                                    (non-interpolated) buffer or the exec buffer
  \print                            alias for \p
  \raw                              alias for \p
  \exec                             alias for \p
  \w [-raw|-exec] FILE              write the contents of the query buffer, raw
                                    (non-interpolated) buffer, or exec buffer to file
  \write                            alias for \w
  \r                                reset (clear) the query buffer
  \reset                            alias for \r

Informational
  \d[S+] [NAME]                     list tables, views, and sequences or describe table, view,
                                    sequence, or index
  \da[S+] [PATTERN]                 list aggregates
  \df[S+] [PATTERN]                 list functions
  \di[S+] [PATTERN]                 list indexes
  \dm[S+] [PATTERN]                 list materialized views
  \dn[S+] [PATTERN]                 list schemas
  \dp[S] [PATTERN]                  list table, view, and sequence access privileges
  \ds[S+] [PATTERN]                 list sequences
  \dt[S+] [PATTERN]                 list tables
  \dv[S+] [PATTERN]                 list views
  \l[+]                             list databases
  \ss[+] [TABLE|QUERY] [k]          show stats for a table or a query

Variables
  \set [NAME [VALUE]]               set usql application variable, or show all usql application
                                    variables if no parameters
  \unset NAME                       unset (delete) usql application variable
  \pset [NAME [VALUE]]              set table print formatting option, or show all print
                                    formatting options if no parameters
  \a                                toggle between unaligned and aligned output mode
  \C [TITLE]                        set table title, or unset if none
  \f [SEPARATOR]                    show or set field separator for unaligned query output
  \H                                toggle HTML output mode
  \T [ATTRIBUTES]                   set HTML <table> tag attributes, or unset if none
  \t [on|off]                       show only rows
  \x [on|off|auto]                  toggle expanded output
  \cset [NAME [URL]]                set named connection, or show all named connections if no
                                    parameters
  \cset NAME DRIVER PARAMS...       set named connection for driver and parameters
  \prompt [-TYPE] VAR [PROMPT]      prompt user to set application variable

Input/Output
  \echo [-n] [MESSAGE]...           write message to standard output (-n for no newline)
  \qecho [-n] [MESSAGE]...          write message to \o output stream (-n for no newline)
  \warn [-n] [MESSAGE]...           write message to standard error (-n for no newline)
  \o [FILE]                         send all query results to file or |pipe
  \out                              alias for \o
  \copy SRC DST QUERY TABLE         copy results of query from source database into table on
                                    destination database
  \copy SRC DST QUERY TABLE(A,...)  copy results of query from source database into table's
                                    columns on destination database

Control/Conditional
  \i FILE                           execute commands from file
  \include                          alias for \i
  \ir FILE                          as \i, but relative to location of current script
  \include_relative                 alias for \ir
  \if EXPR                          begin conditional block
  \elif EXPR                        alternative within current conditional block
  \else                             final alternative within current conditional block
  \endif                            end conditional block

Transaction
  \begin [-read-only [ISOLATION]]   begin transaction, with optional isolation level
  \commit                           commit current transaction
  \rollback                         rollback (abort) current transaction
  \abort                            alias for \rollback

Operating System/Environment
  \! [COMMAND]                      execute command in shell or start interactive shell
  \cd [DIR]                         change the current working directory
  \getenv VARNAME ENVVAR            fetch environment variable
  \setenv NAME [VALUE]              set or unset environment variable

Parameters passed to commands can be backticked.

Features and Compatibility

An overview of usql's features, functionality, and compatibility with psql:

• Configuration
• Variables
• Backticks
• Copying Between Databases
• Syntax Highlighting
• Time Formatting
• Context Completion
• Host Connection Information
• Passwords
• Runtime Configuration (RC) File

The usql project's goal is to support as much of psql's core features and functionality, and aims to be as compatible as possible - contributions are always appreciated!

Configuration

During its initialization phase, usql reads a standard YAML configuration file config.yaml. On Windows this is %AppData%/usql/config.yaml, on macOS this is $HOME/Library/Application Support/usql/config.yaml, and on Linux and other Unix systems this is normally $HOME/.config/usql/config.yaml.

connections:

Named connection DSNs can be defined under connections: as a string or as a map:

connections:
  my_couchbase_conn: couchbase://Administrator:P4ssw0rd@localhost
  my_clickhouse_conn: clickhouse://clickhouse:P4ssw0rd@localhost
  my_godror_conn:
    protocol: godror
    username: system
    password: P4ssw0rd
    hostname: localhost
    port: 1521
    database: free

Defined connections: can be used on the command-line with \connect, \c, \copy, and other commands:

$ usql my_godror_conn
Connected with driver godror (Oracle Database 23.0.0.0.0)
Type "help" for help.

gr:system@localhost/free=>

init:

An initialization script can be defined as init: as a string:

init: |
  \echo welcome to the jungle `date`
  \set SYNTAX_HL_STYLE paraiso-dark
  \set PROMPT1 '\033[32m%S%M%/%R%#\033[0m '

The init: script is commonly used to set environment variables or other configuration, and can be disabled on the command-line using the --no-init / -X flag. The script will be executed prior to any -c / --command / -f / --file flag and before starting the interactive interpreter.

Other Options

Please see contrib/config.yaml for an overview of available configuration options.

Variables

usql supports runtime, connection, and display formatting variables that can be \set, \cset, or \pset respectively.

Runtime Variables

Runtime variables are managed with the \set and \unset commands:

(not connected)=> \unset FOO
(not connected)=> \set FOO bar

Runtime variables can be displayed with \set:

(not connected)=> \set
FOO = 'bar'

Variable Interpolation

When a runtime variable NAME has been \set, then :NAME, :'NAME', and :"NAME" will be interpolated into the query buffer:

pg:booktest@localhost=> \set FOO bar
pg:booktest@localhost=> select * from authors where name = :'FOO';
  author_id | name
+-----------+------+
          7 | bar
(1 rows)

Where a runtime variable is used as :'NAME' or :"NAME" the interpolated value will be quoted using ' or " respectively:

pg:booktest@localhost=> \set TBLNAME authors
pg:booktest@localhost=> \set COLNAME name
pg:booktest@localhost=> \set FOO bar
pg:booktest@localhost=> select * from :TBLNAME where :"COLNAME" = :'FOO'

The query buffer and interpolated values can be displayed with \p and \print, or the raw query buffer can be displayed with \raw:

pg:booktest@localhost-> \p
select * from authors where "name" = 'bar'
pg:booktest@localhost-> \raw
select * from :TBLNAME where :"COLNAME" = :'FOO'

Note

Variables contained within other strings will not be interpolated:

pg:booktest@localhost=> select ':FOO';
  ?column?
+----------+
  :FOO
(1 rows)

pg:booktest@localhost=> \p
select ':FOO';

Connection Variables

Connection variables work similarly to runtime variables, and are managed with \cset. Connection variables can be used with the \c, \connect, \copy, or other commands:

(not connected)=> \cset my_conn postgres://user:pass@localhost
(not connected)=> \c my_conn
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 16.2 (Debian 16.2-1.pgdg120+2))
pg:postgres@localhost=>

Connection variables are not interpolated into queries. See the configuration section for information on defining persistent connection variables.

Connection variables can be displayed with \cset:

(not connected)=> \cset
my_conn = 'postgres://user:pass@localhost'

Display Formatting (Print) Variables

Display formatting variables can be set using \pset and other commands:

(not connected)=> \pset time Kitchen
Time display is "Kitchen" ("3:04PM").
(not connected)=> \a
Output format is unaligned.

Display formatting variables can be displayed with \pset:

(not connected)=> \pset
time                     Kitchen

Other Variables

Runtime behavior, such as enabling or disabling syntax highlighting can be modified through special variables like SYNTAX_HL.

Use the \? variables command to display variable help information and to list special variables recognized by usql:

(not connected)=> \? variables

Backticks

Backslash (\) meta commands support backticks on parameters:

(not connected)=> \echo Welcome `echo $USER` -- 'currently:' "(" `date` ")"
Welcome ken -- currently: ( Wed Jun 13 12:10:27 WIB 2018 )
(not connected)=>

Backticked parameters will be passed to the user's SHELL, exactly as written, and can be combined with \set:

pg:booktest@localhost=> \set MYVAR `date`
pg:booktest@localhost=> \set
MYVAR = 'Wed Jun 13 12:17:11 WIB 2018'
pg:booktest@localhost=> \echo :MYVAR
Wed Jun 13 12:17:11 WIB 2018
pg:booktest@localhost=>

Copying Between Databases

usql provides a \copy command that reads data from a source database DSN and writes to a destination database DSN:

(not connected)=> \cset PGDSN postgres://user:pass@localhost
(not connected)=> \cset MYDSN mysql://user:pass@localhost
(not connected)=> \copy PGDSN MYDSN 'select book_id, author_id from books' 'books(id, author_id)'

As demonstrated above, the \copy command does not require being connected to a database, and will not modify or change the current open database connection or state.

Any valid URL or DSN name maybe used for the source and destination database:

(not connected)=> \cset MYDSN mysql://user:pass@localhost
(not connected)=> \copy postgres://user:pass@localhost MYDSN 'select book_id, author_id from books' 'books(id, author_id)'

Note

usql's \copy is distinct from and does not function like psql's \copy.

Copy Parameters

The \copy command has two parameter forms:

\copy SRC DST QUERY TABLE
\copy SRC DST QUERY TABLE(COL1, COL2, ..., COLN)

Where:

• SRC - is the source database URL to connect to, and where the QUERY will be executed
• DST - is the destination database URL to connect to, and where the destination TABLE resides
• QUERY - is the query to execute on the SRC connection, the results of which will be copied to TABLE
• TABLE - is the destination table name, followed by an optional SQL-like column list of the form (COL1, COL2, ..., COLN)
• (COL1, COL2, ..., COLN) - a list of the destination column names, 1-to-N

The usual rules for variables, interpolation, and quoting apply to \copy's parameters.

Quoting

QUERY and TABLE must be quoted when containing spaces:

$ usql
(not connected)=> echo :SOURCE_DSN :DESTINATION_DSN
pg://postgres:P4ssw0rd@localhost/ mysql://localhost
(not connected)=> \copy :SOURCE_DSN :DESTINATION_DSN 'select * from mySourceTable' 'myDestination(colA, colB)'
COPY 2

Column Counts

The QUERY must return the same number of columns as defined by the TABLE expression:

$ usql
(not connected)=> \copy csvq:. sq:test.db 'select * from authors' authors
error: failed to prepare insert query: 2 values for 1 columns
(not connected)=> \copy csvq:. sq:test.db 'select name from authors' authors(name)
COPY 2

Datatype Compatibility and Casting

The \copy command does not attempt to perform any kind of datatype conversion.

If a QUERY returns columns with different datatypes than expected by the TABLE's column, the QUERY can use the source database's conversion/casting functionality to cast columns to a datatype that will work for TABLE's columns:

$ usql
(not connected)=> \copy postgres://user:pass@localhost mysql://user:pass@localhost 'SELECT uuid_column::TEXT FROM myPgTable' myMyTable
COPY 1

Importing Data from CSV

The \copy command is capable of importing data from CSV's (or any other database!) using the csvq driver:

$ cat authors.csv
author_id,name
1,Isaac Asimov
2,Stephen King
$ cat books.csv
book_id,author_id,title
1,1,I Robot
2,2,Carrie
3,2,Cujo
$ usql
(not connected)=> -- setting variables to make connections easier
(not connected)=> \set SOURCE_DSN csvq://.
(not connected)=> \set DESTINATION_DSN sqlite3:booktest.db
(not connected)=> -- connecting to the destination and creating the schema
(not connected)=> \c :DESTINATION_DSN
Connected with driver sqlite3 (SQLite3 3.38.5)
(sq:booktest.db)=> create table authors (author_id integer, name text);
CREATE TABLE
(sq:booktest.db)=> create table books (book_id integer not null primary key autoincrement, author_id integer, title text);
CREATE TABLE
(sq:booktest.db)=> -- adding an extra row to books prior to copying
(sq:booktest.db)=> insert into books (author_id, title) values (1, 'Foundation');
INSERT 1
(sq:booktest.db)=> -- disconnecting to demonstrate that \copy opens new database connections
(sq:booktest.db)=> \disconnect
(not connected)=> -- copying data from SOURCE -> DESTINATION
(not connected)=> \copy :SOURCE_DSN :DESTINATION_DSN 'select * from authors' authors
COPY 2
(not connected)=> \copy :SOURCE_DSN :DESTINATION_DSN 'select author_id, title from books' 'books(author_id, title)'
COPY 3
(not connected)=> \c :DESTINATION_DSN
Connected with driver sqlite3 (SQLite3 3.38.5)
(sq:booktest.db)=> select * from authors;
 author_id |     name
-----------+--------------
         1 | Isaac Asimov
         2 | Stephen King
(2 rows)

sq:booktest.db=> select * from books;
 book_id | author_id |   title
---------+-----------+------------
       1 |         1 | Foundation
       2 |         1 | I Robot
       3 |         2 | Carrie
       4 |         2 | Cujo
(4 rows)

Note

When importing large datasets (> 1GiB) from one database to another, it is better to use a database's native clients and tools.

Reusing Connections with Copy

The \copy command (and all usql commands) works with variables. When scripting, or when needing to perform multiple \copy operations from/to multiple sources/destinations, the best practice is to \set connection variables either in a script or in the $HOME/.usqlrc RC script.

Similarly, passwords can be stored for easy reuse (and kept out of scripts) by storing in the $HOME/.usqlpass password file.

For example:

$ cat $HOME/.usqlpass
postgres:*:*:*:postgres:P4ssw0rd
godror:*:*:*:system:P4ssw0rd
$ usql
Type "help" for help.

(not connected)=> \set pglocal postgres://postgres@localhost:49153?sslmode=disable
(not connected)=> \set orlocal godror://system@localhost:1521/orasid
(not connected)=> \copy :pglocal :orlocal 'select staff_id, first_name from staff' 'staff(staff_id, first_name)'
COPY 18

Syntax Highlighting

Interactive queries will be syntax highlighted by default, using Chroma. There are a number of variables that control syntax highlighting:

The SYNTAX_* variables are regular usql variables, and can be \set and \unset:

$ usql
(not connected)=> \set SYNTAX_HL_STYLE dracula
(not connected)=> \unset SYNTAX_HL_OVERRIDE_BG

Context Completion

When using the interactive shell, context completion is available in usql by hitting the <Tab> key. For example, hitting <Tab> can complete some parts of SELECT queries on a PostgreSQL databases:

$ usql
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 14.4 (Debian 14.4-1.pgdg110+1))
Type "help" for help.

pg:postgres@=> select * f<Tab>
fetch            from             full outer join

Or, for example completing backslash commands while connected to a database:

$ usql my://
Connected with driver mysql (10.8.3-MariaDB-1:10.8.3+maria~jammy)
Type "help" for help.

my:root@=> \g<Tab>
\g     \gexec \gset  \gx

Not all commands, contexts, or databases support completion. If you're interested in helping to make usql's completion better, see the section below on contributing.

Command completion can be canceled with <Control-C>.

Time Formatting

Some databases support time/date columns that support formatting. By default, usql formats time/date columns as RFC3339Nano, and can be set using \pset time FORMAT:

$ usql pg://
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 13.2 (Debian 13.2-1.pgdg100+1))
Type "help" for help.

pg:postgres@=> \pset
time                     RFC3339Nano
pg:postgres@=> select now();
             now
-----------------------------
 2021-05-01T22:21:44.710385Z
(1 row)

pg:postgres@=> \pset time Kitchen
Time display is "Kitchen" ("3:04PM").
pg:postgres@=> select now();
   now
---------
 10:22PM
(1 row)

pg:postgres@=>

usql's time format supports any Go supported time format, or can be any standard Go const name, such as Kitchen above. See below for an overview of the available time constants.

Time Constants

The following are the time constant names available in usql, corresponding time format value, and example display output:

^↓ Generated using timestamp 2022-08-03T20:12:48.693257Z

Host Connection Information

By default, usql displays connection information when connecting to a database. This might cause problems with some databases or connections. This can be disabled by setting the system environment variable USQL_SHOW_HOST_INFORMATION to false:

$ export USQL_SHOW_HOST_INFORMATION=false
$ usql pg://booktest@localhost
Type "help" for help.

pg:booktest@=>

SHOW_HOST_INFORMATION is a standard usql variable, and can be \set or \unset. Additionally, it can be passed via the command-line using -v or --set:

$ usql --set SHOW_HOST_INFORMATION=false pg://
Type "help" for help.

pg:booktest@=> \set SHOW_HOST_INFORMATION true
pg:booktest@=> \connect pg://
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 9.6.9)
pg:booktest@=>

Terminal Graphics

usql supports terminal graphics for Kitty, iTerm, and Sixel enabled terminals using the github.com/kenshaw/rasterm package. Terminal graphics are only available when using the interactive shell.

Detection and Support

usql will attempt to detect when terminal graphics support is available using the USQL_TERM_GRAPHICS, TERM_GRAPHICS and other environment variables unique to various terminals.

When support is available, the logo will be displayed at the start of an interactive session:

Charts and Graphs

The \chart command can be used to display a chart directly in the terminal:

See the section on the \chart meta command for details.

Enabling/Disabling Terminal Graphics

Terminal graphics can be forced enabled or disabled by setting the USQL_TERM_GRAPHICS or the TERM_GRAPHICS environment variable:

# disable
$ USQL_TERM_GRAPHICS=none usql

# force iterm graphics
$ TERM_GRAPHICS=iterm usql

Terminals with Graphics Support

The following terminals have been tested with usql:

• WezTerm is a cross-platform terminal for Windows, macOS, Linux, and many other platforms that supports iTerm graphics

• iTerm2 is a macOS terminal that supports iTerm graphics

• kitty is a terminal for Linux, macOS, and various BSDs that supports Kitty graphics

• foot is a Wayland terminal for Linux (and other Wayland hosts) that supports Sixel graphics

Additional terminals that support Sixel graphics are catalogued on the Are We Sixel Yet? website.

Passwords

usql supports reading passwords for databases from a .usqlpass file contained in the user's HOME directory at startup:

$ cat $HOME/.usqlpass
# format is:
# protocol:host:port:dbname:user:pass
postgres:*:*:*:booktest:booktest
$ usql pg://
Connected with driver postgres (PostgreSQL 9.6.9)
Type "help" for help.

pg:booktest@=>

While the .usqlpass functionality will not be removed, it is recommended to define named connections preferrably via the config.yaml file.

Note

The .usqlpass file cannot be readable by other users, and the permissions should be set accordingly:

chmod 0600 ~/.usqlpass

Runtime Configuration (RC) File

usql supports executing a .usqlrc runtime configuration (RC) file contained in the user's HOME directory:

$ cat $HOME/.usqlrc
\echo WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE `date`
\set SYNTAX_HL_STYLE paraiso-dark

-- set color prompt (default is prompt is "%S%m%/%R%#" )
\set PROMPT1 "\033[32m%S%m%/%R%#\033[0m"
$ usql
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Thu Jun 14 02:36:53 WIB 2018
Type "help" for help.

(not connected)=> \set
SYNTAX_HL_STYLE = 'paraiso-dark'
(not connected)=>

The .usqlrc file is read at startup in the same way as a file passed on the command-line with -f / --file. It is commonly used to set startup environment variables and settings.

RC-file execution can be temporarily disabled at startup by passing -X or --no-init on the command-line:

$ usql --no-init pg://

While the .usqlrc functionality will not be removed, it is recommended to set an init script in the config.yaml file.

Additional Notes

The following are additional notes and miscellania related to usql:

Release Builds

Release builds are built with the most build tag and with additional SQLite3 build tags (see: build.sh).

macOS

The recommended installation method on macOS is via brew due to the way library dependencies for the sqlite3 driver are done on macOS. If the following (or similar) error is encountered when attempting to run usql:

$ usql
dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/local/opt/icu4c/lib/libicuuc.68.dylib
  Referenced from: /Users/user/.local/bin/usql
  Reason: image not found
Abort trap: 6

Then missing library dependency can be fixed by installing icu4c using brew:

$ brew install icu4c
Running `brew update --auto-update`...
==> Downloading ...
...

$ usql
(not connected)=>

Contributing

usql is currently a WIP, and is aiming towards a 1.0 release soon. Well-written PRs are always welcome -- and there is a clear backlog of issues marked help wanted on the GitHub issue tracker! For technical details on contributing, see CONTRIBUTING.md.

Pick up an issue today, and submit a PR tomorrow!

Related Projects

• dburl - Go package providing a standard, URL-style mechanism for parsing and opening database connection URLs
• xo - Go command-line tool to generate Go code from a database schema