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Reinventing database exploration with Azimutt

Loïc Knuchel

February 3, 2024

@loicknuchel

#FOSDEM

Struggling with databases? Me too. Well, that was before.� As developers, we often interact with databases, whether to understand the data model or debug our application.� After more than 50 years of existence and thousands of tools, we still rely on our basic SQL client: query file and a results table.� No advanced tool has really gained widespread adoption.

This is the challenge I set for myself: create the daily tool for developers to interact, explore, and collaborate with their databases 🤯� I've checked all the boxes: a beautiful and modern SaaS, fully open-source, with a generous free plan, but most importantly:

a blend of schema and data exploration and documentation
an ultra-simple DSL to design and evolve your schema
made for complex databases
analysis of best practices

In this talk, I'm discussing the needs I've identified, how Azimutt addresses them, including a demo, as well as my process of creation, past and future.

Message:�I'm willing to accept a 5 min talk if it fits best in the schedule (will be quick demo then).

After 6 months at Doctolib, struggling at exploring the database and testing every possible tool, I finally decided to create my ideal tool, from scratch. For nearly 3 years now, I've been developing it as open-source, and it is now used by 200 developers at Doctolib and over 2500 outside of Doctolib.� Azimutt makes developers' interactions with their database easier, and it seems relevant to me now to share its usefulness more widely.

Here are some slides (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CP70UwUHzJxteNFXEh3OlIwEjP-lOYumgnZbJJ2JVvo) and video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMEpYgzfFmU) of a similar talk (in French, sorry), a bit old and with a different angle but it could give you the spirit.

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Loïc Knuchel

Principal Engineer

@loicknuchel

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Three years ago,

I joined…

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Show everything

Understand nothing

No sql/db import

Not private enough

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Allow local only

Made for large (and messy) databases

Open-source

erd

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Schema exploration

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Choose tables & columns to show
Navigate using relations (in/out)

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Database design

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Database documentation

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SQL table comment

Azimutt table note

Table tags

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SQL column comment

Azimutt column note

Column tags

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Layout memos

Table group

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Data exploration

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Try it out:

npx azimutt explore postgresql://user:pass@localhost/my_db