Modern SQLite (and SQLCipher) database viewer/editor for VS Code: table browsing, Monaco-powered queries, ER diagrams, and quality-of-life tooling for JSON/BLOBs and large tables.
Beta note: features and stability are evolving. Please report issues/feedback on GitHub.
Offline + Secure: runs locally inside VS Code and the extension does not send your database contents anywhere (no cloud, no telemetry).
A quick tour of the main workflows (all offline, inside VS Code):
Browse + edit tables
|
Multi-table tabs
|
Schema view
|
Query editor (Monaco)
|
Foreign-key navigation
|
ER diagram
|
JSON viewer
|
BLOB viewer
|
SQLCipher (encrypted DBs)
|
External updates
|
- Free: no paywalls; MIT-licensed.
- Offline + secure by design: database contents stay on your machine (the extension doesn’t make network requests).
- Custom database editor for
.db,.sqlite,.sqlite3(opens as a rich UI, not plain text). - Database Explorer view (tables + columns) while a database is open.
- Multi-table tabs (open multiple tables/results, drag to reorder).
- Fast table browsing: pagination, quick search, sorting, column filters, resizable columns/rows, column pinning.
- Editing: inline cell edit + row delete (writes changes back to the database file).
- Context menu tools: copy cell/row/column, copy row/table as JSON, JSON viewer for JSON cells, BLOB viewer + copy as Base64/Hex.
- Export from the table UI: export currently visible rows to CSV.
- Foreign-key navigation: jump to referenced rows from FK cells.
- ER diagram: interactive relationship diagram (zoom/pan) built with D3.
- WAL-aware: checkpoints WAL on open (best-effort) and refreshes when
-wal/-shmchange.
- Open any
.db,.sqlite, or.sqlite3file. - If VS Code asks, choose Open With… → SQLite Database IntelliView.
- Use the left Database Explorer to open tables, then:
- Data tab: browse/edit rows
- Schema tab: inspect columns/keys
- Query tab: run SQL
- Diagram tab: generate an ER diagram
Tip: right-click a database file in Explorer → Open SQLite Database.
SQLite IntelliView runs locally inside VS Code. For best functionality, install these command-line tools and ensure they’re available on your PATH:
sqlite3(recommended): used for WAL checkpointing on unencrypted databases.sqlcipher(only for encrypted DBs): used to decrypt/re-encrypt SQLCipher databases and checkpoint encrypted WAL databases.
If you don’t install these:
- Unencrypted databases will still open, but WAL checkpointing may be limited.
- Encrypted (SQLCipher) databases won’t be able to open/decrypt.
- macOS (Homebrew):
brew install sqlite - Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y sqlite3 - Windows:
- Winget:
winget install --id SQLite.SQLite -e - Chocolatey:
choco install sqlite
- Winget:
Verify: sqlite3 --version
- macOS (Homebrew):
brew install sqlcipher - Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y sqlcipher - Windows:
- MSYS2:
pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-sqlcipher - Or install a SQLCipher build and add
sqlcipher.exeto yourPATH.
- MSYS2:
Verify: sqlcipher -version
- Run SQLite IntelliView: Connect with SQLCipher Key and enter your key.
- Or use the input box at the top of the Database Explorer view.
- SQLCipher support requires the
sqlcipherCLI to be available on yourPATH(used for decrypt/re-encrypt and WAL operations).
If your database uses WAL mode, IntelliView will try to checkpoint the WAL before loading so you see up-to-date data, and will refresh when WAL/SHM files change.
If the database is locked by another process (or you only have read-only access), you may see stale data. Use:
- SQLite IntelliView: Checkpoint WAL and Refresh
For best results, ensure the sqlite3 CLI is available on your PATH (used for WAL checkpointing on unencrypted databases).
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
SQLite IntelliView: Open SQLite Database |
Open a database in the custom editor |
SQLite IntelliView: Connect with SQLCipher Key |
Connect to an encrypted database |
SQLite IntelliView: Refresh Database |
Refresh the Database Explorer view |
SQLite IntelliView: Checkpoint WAL and Refresh |
Force a WAL checkpoint (best-effort) |
SQLite IntelliView: Export Data |
Placeholder command (use the in-table Export button today) |
| Command | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Open SQLite Database | Ctrl+Shift+O |
Cmd+Shift+O |
| Connect with SQLCipher Key | Ctrl+Shift+K |
Cmd+Shift+K |
| Refresh Database | Ctrl+Shift+R |
Cmd+Shift+R |
| Export Data | Ctrl+Shift+E |
Cmd+Shift+E |
These work while focus is inside the database editor webview:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Execute query | Ctrl+Enter / Cmd+Enter |
| Clear query editor | Ctrl+K / Cmd+K |
| Focus table search | Ctrl+F / Cmd+F (or / on the Data tab) |
| Refresh view (re-fetch) | Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R |
| Hard reload from disk | Ctrl+Alt+R / Cmd+Option+R |
- Query results are capped (to keep the UI responsive). For very large exports, use the table UI’s CSV export or a dedicated SQLite client.
- Query editor writes are not persisted yet: non-
SELECTstatements may run in-memory but are not currently written back to disk; use inline cell editing / row delete for persisted changes. - Edits write to the database file. Consider working on a copy if the database is important or shared with other processes.
- SQL restrictions: some sensitive statements are blocked in the query editor (for example:
PRAGMA key,ATTACH DATABASE,DETACH DATABASE).
- “Database is locked” / WAL checkpoint fails: close other apps holding the DB, or run Checkpoint WAL and Refresh.
- Encrypted DB won’t open: ensure
sqlcipheris installed and onPATH, then reconnect with the correct key. - Stale data in WAL mode: checkpoint requires write access; read-only workspaces may not be able to merge WAL changes.
See CHANGELOG.md.
MIT License – see LICENSE.
Built with (bundled locally): sql.js (WASM SQLite), monaco-editor, d3, sortablejs.