iasql
IaSQL is an open-source tool that lets you manage AWS cloud infrastructure using SQL queries against a PostgreSQL database. It maintains a two-way sync between your database and AWS account, so infrastructure changes in either direction stay in sync.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | alantech/iasql |
| Owner | alantech |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 606 |
| Forks | 25 |
| Open issues | 146 |
| Latest release | v0.1.9 (2023-04-11) |
| Last updated | 2025-01-29 |
| Source | https://github.com/alantech/iasql |
What iasql is
IaSQL exposes AWS resources as PostgreSQL table rows, enabling CRUD operations on infrastructure via SQL. It bridges PostgreSQL and AWS APIs, maintaining eventual consistency between the database state and live cloud resources across supported AWS services.
Get the iasql source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/alantech/iasql.gitcd iasql# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Verify AWS service coverage in docs for required modules before commitment; unsupported services require workarounds or custom extensions.
- Understand two-way sync semantics and edge cases (conflicts, race conditions) when modifications occur outside IaSQL or across team members.
- PostgreSQL database must remain accessible and consistent; plan for backup, recovery, and high availability if using for critical infrastructure state.
- Requires AWS credentials and IAM permissions configured in the PostgreSQL environment; ensure secure credential storage and rotation practices.
- Schema and SQL queries must handle the data model exposed by IaSQL modules; abstraction levels vary by service.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Multi-cloud or non-AWS infrastructure — AWS is the only supported cloud provider. GCP and Azure support are listed as future work. Not suitable for heterogeneous cloud environments.
- Need for broad AWS service coverage — Only selected AWS services have modules. Coverage gaps require checking the docs and tracking open issues. Enterprise workloads needing niche services may face unavailable modules.
- Production infrastructure with strict governance — Two-way sync model and reliance on SQL row consistency may introduce unexpected state divergence. Organizations requiring audit trails, approval workflows, and deterministic IaC may find this approach risky without additional controls.
- Team expertise heavily weighted toward IaC/declarative tools — SQL is familiar to data engineers but unfamiliar to many infrastructure teams. Requires shift in mental model from declarative IaC (Terraform, CloudFormation) to imperative SQL operations.
License & commercial use
MIT License. Permissive open-source license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.
MIT license is permissive for commercial use. However, review liability and warranty disclaimers. No SLA, official support, or indemnification mentioned in provided data. Use at own risk in production environments.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Two-way sync between PostgreSQL and AWS credentials introduces attack surface. Ensure PostgreSQL instance is hardened, encrypted, and access-controlled. Credential storage and rotation mechanisms not detailed—requires review. SQL-based operations offer auditability within PG but may obscure AWS-side changes. No mention of encryption at rest or in transit.
Alternatives to consider
Terraform
Declarative, battle-tested, multi-cloud, strong tooling and community. Steeper learning curve but better for large teams and strict governance.
AWS CloudFormation
Native AWS tool, integrated with AWS services, no external dependencies. More verbose but tightly coupled to AWS governance and change sets.
Pulumi
Code-driven (Python, TypeScript, Go), supports multi-cloud, state management built-in. Less SQL-oriented but more flexible for complex logic.
Build on iasql with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate IaSQL for inventory queries, rapid prototyping, and cost optimization. Start with non-critical infrastructure, verify AWS service coverage, and test two-way sync workflows in your environment.
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iasql FAQ
Does IaSQL support my AWS service?
What happens if I modify AWS resources outside IaSQL?
Can I use IaSQL alongside Terraform or CloudFormation?
Is IaSQL suitable for production?
Work with a software development agency
Need help beyond evaluating iasql? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source databases integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Ready to manage AWS with SQL?
Evaluate IaSQL for inventory queries, rapid prototyping, and cost optimization. Start with non-critical infrastructure, verify AWS service coverage, and test two-way sync workflows in your environment.