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Show HN: Base, an SQLite database editor for macOS

(menial.co.uk)
676 points __bb | 9 comments | 25 Aug 25 14:17 UTC | HN request time: 0.264s | source | bottom

I recently released v3 of Base, my SQLite editor for macOS.

The goal of this app is to provide a comfortable native GUI for SQLite, without it turning into a massive IDE-style app.

The coolest features are

- That it can handle full altering of tables, which is quite finicky to do manually with SQLite.

- It has a more detailed display of column constraints than most editors. Each constraint is shown as an icon if active, with full details available on clicking the icon.

This update also adds support for attaching databases, which is a bit fiddly with macOS sandboxing.

I'd love to hear any feedback or answer any questions.

1. TheRealPomax ◴[25 Aug 25 15:07 UTC] No.45014690[source]▶
Why is it MacOS only though? Surely this can cross-compile for Linux and Windows perfectly fine?
replies(4): >>45014758 #>>45014760 #>>45014783 #>>45014858 #
2. ◴[25 Aug 25 15:13 UTC] No.45014758[source]▶
3. jen20 ◴[25 Aug 25 15:13 UTC] No.45014760[source]▶
Probably because it’s written using native Mac UI instead of half-assed with electron.
4. hoistbypetard ◴[25 Aug 25 15:15 UTC] No.45014783[source]▶
Because it a GUI that uses Mac-specific UI libraries that aren't available on Linux and Windows?

While the database stuff works on Linux and Windows, building UIs for the 3 platforms is very different, unless you use some cross platform wrapper layer. Which isn't the purpose of this one. You might want sqlitebrowser[1] if you're looking for something like that.

[1]:https://sqlitebrowser.org

replies(2): >>45017687 #>>45027957 #
5. __bb ◴[25 Aug 25 15:23 UTC] No.45014858[source]▶
As others have said, this is written using AppKit and SwiftUI, which are only available for macOS.

This makes for a much nicer app for mac users, even if it does cut your potential audience.

6. crossroadsguy ◴[25 Aug 25 19:07 UTC] No.45017687[source]▶
One of the first apps I install whenever I set mac https://github.com/sqlitebrowser/sqlitebrowser
replies(1): >>45019240 #
7. hoistbypetard ◴[25 Aug 25 21:27 UTC] No.45019240{3}[source]▶
It's decidedly in my default load for my Linux desktops. And I don't dislike it on Mac, either. The only reason I ever came to try Base is because I use Setapp for a few other things and Base is included.
8. TheRealPomax ◴[26 Aug 25 15:30 UTC] No.45027957[source]▶
Yeah, already using that on the daily, it's just annoying to see folks go "I made something (better) and it's Mac only purely because of my UI library choice".
replies(1): >>45031055 #
9. hoistbypetard ◴[26 Aug 25 19:24 UTC] No.45031055{3}[source]▶
I understand that annoyance. But that's why it can't "cross-compile perfectly fine."