ChartDB to simplify database design and visualization, providing a powerful, intuitive tool that’s fully open-source. This database diagram tool is similar to traditional ones you can find: dbeaver, dbdiagram, drawsql, etc.
So my first impression is that the requirement to copy-paste that elaborate SQL to get the schema is clever but not sufficiently intuitive. Rather than saying "Run this query and paste the output", you say "Run this script in your database" and print out a bunch of text that is not a query at all but a one-liner Bash script that relies on the existence of pbcopy -- something that (a) doesn't exist on many default installs (b) is a red flag for something that's meant to be self-hosted (why am I talking to a pasteboard?), and (c) is totally unnecessary anyway.
Instead, you could just say: "Run this query and paste the result in this box" and print out the raw SQL only. Leave it up to the user to figure out how they want to run it.
Alternatively you can also do something like: "Run this on your machine and copy/paste the output":
In the case of the cloud service, it's also not clear if the data is being stored on the server or client side in LocalStorage. I would think that the latter would be preferable.
Great question! You don’t have to send anything to a third party - exporting SQL scripts tailored to a specific dialect is optional.
By default, we offer a generic SQL export, and only when you need precise, dialect-specific scripts does AI come into play. In the self-hosted version, you’d provide your own OpenAI token, so data stays entirely in your control. Hope that clears it up!
Hey! I get the AI hesitation - it’s everywhere, and I totally understand if you’re wary of buzzwords! With ChartDB, our focus is on making database diagramming simpler, faster, and visually intuitive without the bloat you sometimes find in other tools. The AI component is there mainly to speed up migrations and adapt the tool to specific SQL dialects, so it’s helpful but not in your face.
As for why it might work better for you than DBeaver, ChartDB shines if you’re looking for a minimal, open-source way to visualize schemas quickly without needing a full database management suite. It’s lightweight, community-driven, and designed to do one thing really well: diagram and share schemas with simplicity. Plus, we’re always open to feedback and building features that our community finds valuable!
This looks awesome ! Open-source software needs good design, and you got this right!
I might need it in the future, so I'll keep this on my toolbelt :)
That’s awesome to hear! Thanks for giving ChartDB a shot! We’d love to know how it stacks up for you and if there are any features you think would make it even better. Feel free to reach out here or join our Discord if you have questions or feedback along the way.