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Desktop App

Harlequin

A full SQL editor that runs inside your terminal.

Visit Harlequin4.5
  • Rating

    4.5 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Advanced

  • Works on

    macOS, Windows, Linux

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What is Harlequin?

Harlequin describes itself as the SQL IDE for your terminal. It runs in the terminal on Windows, macOS and Linux and is installed with Python tools such as uv. Its README points to harlequin.sh for the full documentation.

Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.

Pros: what Harlequin does well

  • Write and run SQL without leaving the terminal
  • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Full documentation on its own website

Cons: where it falls short

  • Terminal interface takes getting used to
  • Needs Python tooling to install

Who Harlequin is for

People who live in the terminal and still want an editor for SQL.

Who can skip it

Anyone who prefers a standard desktop database app.

Harlequin alternatives

Not sold on Harlequin? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

pgcli

Focus: postgres, sql and command line. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Rated 4.6 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

litecli

Focus: sqlite, sql and command line. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Same 4.5 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

hyperfine

Focus: benchmark, speed test and command line. Shares open source and github with Harlequin. Rated 4.6 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Miller

Focus: csv, json and data wrangling. Shares open source and github with Harlequin. Rated 4.6 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

NormCap

Focus: ocr, screen capture and copy text. Shares open source and github with Harlequin. Adds Offline. Same 4.5 rating.

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS

qsv

Focus: csv, data cleaning and data analysis. Shares open source and github with Harlequin. Same 4.5 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Free alternatives to Harlequin

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

Atuin

Focus: shell history, command line and sync. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

btop

Focus: system monitor and processes. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

htop

Focus: process viewer, system monitor and command line. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

Starship

Focus: shell prompt and developer tool. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

tmux

Focus: sessions, multiplexer and ssh. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

zoxide

Focus: navigation, command line and shell. Shares terminal and open source with Harlequin. Rated 4.7 (Harlequin: 4.5).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
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