Rowbase

Safe, read-only-by-default MySQL, PostgreSQL & SQLite access for AI agents. TOON output.

Install

Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).

PYPI package rowbase-db

Claude Code

claude mcp add rowbase -- uvx rowbase-db==0.3.0 mcp

JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code)

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "rowbase": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "rowbase-db==0.3.0",
                "mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Documentation

From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.

Contents

Rowbase
Why Rowbase?
Download
Connect your AI assistant (MCP)
CLI
Build from source
Contributing
License

Rowbase

A fast, good-looking, read-only-by-default database client — for humans and for AI agents.

MySQL / MariaDB · PostgreSQL · SQLite · native macOS app · one-file app for macOS, Linux & Windows · built-in MCP server

Why Rowbase?

Safe by default. Every connection is read-only until you say otherwise — enforced at four independent layers (driver-level single statement, SQL guard, READ ONLY transaction, timeouts). Production connections get a red accent.
Made for AI assistants too. A built-in MCP server lets Claude, Cursor, Codex & co. explore your schema and query data — read-only unless you allow writes, with a token-efficient output format (TOON) and a built-in guide so the assistant knows how to use it. One copy-paste prompt sets everything up.
One file, no installer. Download a single binary for macOS, Linux or Windows and run it — no admin rights, no Python, no drivers to install. Or use the native macOS app.
No SQL required. Filter any column from its header like in DataGrip — pick values from a list with counts, or use contains / starts with / between / LIKE / regex / NULL — and build whole queries visually (joins, counts and sums, conditions, sorting) in the query builder, with the generated SQL shown live.
Nice to use. Foreign-key navigation (also for UUID references without FKs, e.g. 1C-style schemas), "referenced by", transpose, column picker, schema-aware autocomplete, EXPLAIN highlighting, query cancel, inline editing with SQL preview, export to CSV/JSON/Markdown/SQL, SSH tunnels.
Open source under Apache-2.0. Passwords live in your OS keychain, never in config files.



SQL editor: autocomplete, ⌘↩ runs the statement under the caret, EXPLAIN, cancel	Edit rows safely: pending changes, SQL preview, one atomic save

Download

Grab the latest from Releases:

Platform	File	How to run
macOS (native app)	`Rowbase-x.y.z.dmg`	open, drag to Applications
macOS (one file)	`rowbase-macos-arm64`	`chmod +x rowbase-macos-arm64 && ./rowbase-macos-arm64`
Ubuntu / Debian	`rowbase_x.y.z_amd64.deb` / `_arm64.deb`	double-click → Install (or `sudo apt install ./rowbase_.deb`), then start Rowbase* from the apps menu
Linux, no root	one command	`curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/djstreet11/Rowbase/main/packaging/install.sh \	sh`— installs to`~/.local/bin` + apps menu
Linux x64 / arm64 (one file)	`rowbase-linux-x64` / `-arm64`	`chmod +x rowbase-linux-* && ./rowbase-linux-x64` (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, RHEL 8+)
Windows 10 / 11	`rowbase-windows-x64.exe`	double-click

Started without arguments (or from the apps menu), Rowbase opens the web UI in your browser; starting it again just reopens the page. A downloaded Linux one-file binary has no "executable" flag, so a double-click does nothing — use the .deb or the install command above, or chmod +x it. Builds are not code-signed yet: macOS → System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway; Windows → More info → Run anyway.

Updates. The Mac app: Rowbase → Check for Updates… (from 0.3.0). One-file binaries: rowbase update, or the Update button in the web UI. PyPI installs: pipx upgrade rowbase-db. The only request is an anonymous check of GitHub Releases, at most once a day — no telemetry; turn it off with ROWBASE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=1.

Connect your AI assistant (MCP)

Open AI / MCP in the app, click Copy prompt, paste it into your assistant — it registers the server, reads the built-in guide and creates a reusable skill. Or register manually:

claude mcp add rowbase -- /path/to/rowbase mcp          # one-file binary or app
claude mcp add rowbase -- uvx --from rowbase-db rowbase mcp   # straight from PyPI, nothing to download

Listed in the official MCP Registry as io.github.djstreet11/rowbase.

Results come back as compact TOON tables (~40% fewer tokens than JSON):

rows[2]{id,customer,total}:
  1,"Smith, Bob",9.50
  2,ann,null
truncated: false

Tools: guide, connections, databases, tables, describe, search_schema, sample, count, query, explain, find_ref (+ apply_changes only when you allow writes). Details: docs/MCP.md.

CLI

Install from PyPI (pipx install rowbase-db / uv tool install rowbase-db) or use a one-file download.

rowbase add shop 'postgres://me@db.example.com/shop?ssh=deploy@bastion'   # read-only unless --rw
rowbase tables -c shop
rowbase q "SELECT * FROM orders WHERE status = 'new'" -c shop --format json
rowbase ui        # web UI on http://127.0.0.1:8765
rowbase mcp       # MCP server (stdio)
rowbase doctor    # environment report
rowbase update    # update a one-file binary in place (--check: only check)

Dark mode

Build from source

Python track: python3 -m venv .venv && .venv/bin/pip install -e . && .venv/bin/rowbase ui
One-file binaries: docs/BUILDING.md · Native macOS app: cd native && swift build · releases: docs/RELEASING.md
Architecture & roadmap: SPEC.md

Contributing

Issues, ideas and pull requests are welcome — see CONTRIBUTING.md and the Code of Conduct. If Rowbase is useful to you, a ⭐ helps others find it.

License

Apache-2.0 — see NOTICE and THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.md.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rowbase?

Safe, read-only-by-default MySQL, PostgreSQL & SQLite access for AI agents. TOON output.

How do I install Rowbase?

It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add rowbase -- uvx rowbase-db==0.3.0 mcp. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.

Does Rowbase need an API key?

Its registry entry lists no required key or secret. Some features may still need an account with the service it connects to.

Is Rowbase open source?

Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the Apache-2.0 license.

Who maintains Rowbase?

It is published by djstreet11. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.

From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.

Server details

Listed in: Official MCP Registry
Publisher: djstreet11
Category: Data and databases
Runs: Local
GitHub stars: ★ 0
License: Apache-2.0
Language: Swift
Last commit: Oct 7, 2026
Open issues: 0
Version: 0.3.0
Published: Oct 7, 2026

io.github.djstreet11/rowbase

Similar servers

Grain SQL Run SQL queries and inspect database schemas through safe, visible MCP tools.
frugal-memory Memory for AI assistants in one SQLite file: full-text search, no vectors, no embeddings.
Tiger MCP Provides programmatic access to Tiger Cloud services, databases, and documentation.
SentinelOne MCP Every SentinelOne v2.1 management endpoint, plus an offline SQLite store and cross-enti...
Huntress MCP Every Huntress endpoint, plus a local SQLite mirror that delivers fleet-wide incident, ...
Agent Index Free open dataset of compliance, security and risk AI agents and audit firms. Read-only...
GhostPaw Email Email tools with a local SQLite cache and IMAP/SMTP account configuration.
Ekwo OS — open source accounting: ledger, invoices and VAT on your own Supabase or Postgres Double-entry books an agent keeps as the user: invoices, VAT returns, 174 country packs.

Data and databases