SQL Cmdr

A lightweight web-based SQL Server management tool for developers who need quick database exploration, query execution, and script generation without the overhead of full-featured database management tools.

What is SQL Cmdr?

SQL Cmdr provides a single-page interface for:

• Browsing database objects (tables, views, stored procedures)
• Executing SQL queries with real-time feedback
• Generating CREATE, SELECT, and DROP scripts
• Exporting database metadata as JSON
• Azure Default Credential support for passwordless authentication

Perfect for:

• Quick database exploration during development
• Ad-hoc query execution
• Learning SQL Server schema structures
• Lightweight alternative to SSMS for simple tasks
• Running in Azure with managed identity authentication

Getting Started (Local Dev)

Prerequisites:

• .NET 8 SDK
• Visual Studio 2022 or VS Code
• SQL Server (local or remote)

Press F5 to launch with .NET Aspire orchestration.

Container Usage

Image: jerrynixon/sql-commander

SQL Authentication

docker run -p 8080:8080 \
  -e ConnectionStrings__db="Server=host.docker.internal;Database=master;User Id=sa;Password=Your_password123;TrustServerCertificate=true" \
  jerrynixon/sql-commander:latest

Azure Authentication (Managed Identity, Azure CLI, etc.)

docker run -p 8080:8080 \
  -e ConnectionStrings__db="Server=myserver.database.windows.net;Database=mydb" \
  jerrynixon/sql-commander:latest

When no credentials are provided in the connection string, SQL Cmdr automatically uses Azure Default Credential for authentication, which supports:

• Managed Identity (System-assigned or User-assigned)
• Azure CLI (az login)
• Visual Studio / VS Code credentials
• Azure PowerShell
• Environment variables (AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET, etc.)

This is ideal for running in Azure Container Instances, Azure Container Apps, AKS, or any Azure service with managed identity support.

Environment Variables

• ConnectionStrings__db (required) SQL Server connection string
• SQLCMDR_FILE_LOG (optional, set to 1 to enable file logging inside container)
• ASPNETCORE_URLS (default http://+:8080)

Health Check

• GET /health returns { "status": "ok" }

Persistence

• Settings stored in sqlcmdr.settings.json in container working directory
• Use a volume mount to persist settings across container restarts:

  docker run -p 8080:8080 \
    -v $(pwd)/data:/app \
    -e ConnectionStrings__db="..." \
    jerrynixon/sql-commander:latest

VS Code Integration

• The toolbar includes an Open in VS Code button that builds a vscode://ms-mssql.mssql/connect link from your current settings and launches the VS Code connection dialog.
• Requires the MS SQL extension for VS Code.
• When no server name is configured SQL Cmdr falls back to the current browser host on port 1433.

Authentication

SQL Cmdr supports two authentication modes (configurable via the settings modal):

SQL Authentication

Traditional username/password authentication:

• Server: myserver.database.windows.net
• Database: mydb
• User ID: myuser
• Password: mypassword

Azure Default Credential (Recommended for Azure)

Passwordless authentication using Azure identity:

• Server: myserver.database.windows.net
• Database: mydb
• No credentials required

The UI automatically detects and uses the appropriate authentication method. When running in Azure with managed identity, no password management is needed.

Architecture

• ASP.NET Core 8 Razor Pages
• Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 5.2.2
• Azure.Identity 1.17.0 (for Azure Default Credential)
• Serilog (console by default, optional file sink)
• .NET Aspire (dev only)

Project Structure

sql-commander/
├── AppHost/              # Aspire orchestration (dev)
├── SqlCmdr.Web/          # Web UI
├── SqlCmdr.Library/      # Services + abstractions
├── SqlCmdr.Library.Tests # Tests
└── SqlServer/            # Database project

License

MIT License - See LICENSE