DBeaver
My go to Universal Database Manager: part of the My Stack series of blogs
ChatGPT says, “DBeaver is a powerful and versatile database management tool that has gained widespread popularity among developers, database administrators, and data analysts. This open-source software offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to simplify database tasks and streamline workflows, making it an indispensable asset in the realm of database management. With its intuitive user interface, support for a wide range of database systems, and robust set of tools for querying, designing, and administering databases, DBeaver has become an essential companion for professionals working with data, offering both efficiency and flexibility in their daily tasks. Whether you’re a seasoned database expert or just starting your journey in the world of data management, DBeaver is a valuable companion that can help you navigate the complexities of modern database systems with ease.”
These on the other-hand are my words.
I am often bemused by the fact that more people don't know about DBeaver, most of whom are Postgres/PostGIS users and wedded (rightly or wrongly) to PGadmin. I happenend to come across DBeaver in late 2018, said good bye to PGadmin and it's now one of the first bits of software that I install when setting up a new pc, laptop, mac.
Here are my top five reasons for moving to DBeaver.
1. Multiple connects
Of all the database/datatypes I favour Postgres, GeoPackge and CSV. So the ability to connect to all three in a single database management applicaiton still blows my mind.
By default, DBeaver offers compatibility with various databases, but this doesn’t imply universal connectivity. The reason behind this is that DBeaver doesn’t pre-install all the necessary JAVA files for every database type. This approach makes sense as it avoids unnecessary installations. Instead, DBeaver alerts users when essential Java files are absent and provides convenient prompts for their installation.
2. Maps
I’m a map nut, its my life and passion. When your data contains geometry, DBeaver provides the invaluable capability to visualize that data on a map. This feature is an incredible time-saver as it eliminates the need to switch to tools like QGIS to repeatedly load or refresh the data. You have the flexibility to customize your base mapping to your preferences, including the option to incorporate your own Web Map Service (WMS), but right out of the box, DBeaver offers Open Street Map (OSM). Another amazing tool, is the ability to then export this map view to Leaflet JS, adding another layer of functionality to an already amazing toolset.
3. Exporting data.
While the ability to export data out in a GIS format isn’t there, DBeaver still offers the capability to export data into various data formats. Moreover, it goes beyond that and provides additional functionality to save the export as a Task, making it a repeatable job.
4. SQL Editor
Clean, flesh and easy to use — what more could you need.
You have the option to save SQL scripts either locally on your device or, even more conveniently, within DBeaver’s Projects section. Within this section, you can neatly organize your scripts into folders, and DBeaver also keeps track of which database each script was executed against, making it a user-friendly and organized solution for managing your SQL scripts.
There are so many options around the periphery of the editor, most of which I’ve not explored but i’m sure if that I did I would be wow’ed even more than I am.
5. Its Open Source
Perhaps this should have been up higher in my list but I got excited by the other features of DBeaver first! I use the community edition of DBeaver which is the Open-Source edition and receives updates regularly. But while it has a fear few less features than the PRO version of which there are serveral flavours of, one of which is CloudBeaver Enterprise, it is still the best Universal Database Manager to my mind.
If you enjoyed this, then perhaps Buy Me A Coffee.
