liam
Liam is an open-source tool that automatically generates interactive ER diagrams from database schemas. It supports both public repositories (via URL rewriting) and private databases (via CLI), with a React-based UI offering panning, zooming, and filtering for schemas with 100+ tables.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | liam-hq/liam |
| Owner | liam-hq |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 4.9k |
| Forks | 220 |
| Open issues | 29 |
| Latest release | @liam-hq/[email protected] (2025-11-25) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/liam-hq/liam |
What liam is
TypeScript/Node.js application using React Flow for visualization, supporting multiple database formats (SQL, Prisma, Rails schema.rb). Deployable as CLI or web service; reverse-engineers schema definitions into interactive SVG/canvas-based diagrams with client-side rendering.
Get the liam source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/liam-hq/liam.gitcd liam# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Install via npm (@liam-hq/cli); verify Node.js version compatibility for your environment.
- For private repositories, run interactive CLI setup (npx @liam-hq/cli init) to configure authentication and schema source.
- Public repositories require only URL-path modification (insert liambx.com/erd/p/ into schema file URL); no deployment needed.
- Performance scales to 100+ tables per README; test with actual schema size to validate rendering speed in your use case.
- Diagram output format (interactive web UI vs. static image export) not clearly specified; verify export/sharing requirements before adoption.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Real-Time Collaboration Requirements — No indication of live multi-user editing or conflict resolution; not suited for teams simultaneously modifying schemas with synchronization needs.
- Complex Business Logic Diagrams — Designed for schema visualization only; does not express stored procedures, triggers, application workflows, or data lineage beyond foreign keys.
- Strict Air-Gapped/Offline Deployments — CLI init process and public repository support suggest cloud connectivity; no documented offline-first or disconnected-mode capability.
- Non-Standard or Proprietary Schema Formats — Supports listed technologies (PostgreSQL, Prisma, Rails, SQL); unsupported or custom schema definitions will require manual adaptation.
License & commercial use
Apache License 2.0 (SPDX: Apache-2.0). Permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability disclaimers. Third-party dependencies listed in docs/packages-license.md; review required for full compliance.
Apache 2.0 permits commercial use without per-seat licensing fees or vendor approval. However, review third-party dependencies (docs/packages-license.md) for any restrictive licenses. No commercial support agreement, SLA, or warranty stated; community support via GitHub issues only.
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 | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Private repository support requires credential handling (init process details Unknown). No explicit security audit, vulnerability disclosure policy, or CVE history provided. Client-side rendering reduces server-side exposure, but credential storage and authentication mechanisms require review before production use.
Alternatives to consider
DBDiagram.io
Web-based ER diagram tool with visual editor and SQL import; better for ad-hoc diagramming but less integrated with version control.
SchemaCrawler
Java-based schema reverse-engineering with programmatic API; more powerful for legacy systems and custom transformations but steeper learning curve.
tbls (via GitHub Actions)
YAML/Markdown-based schema documentation with automation; simpler plain-text workflow but less interactive visualization.
Build on liam with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate Liam for your next documentation or schema review project. Start with a public repo URL or run the CLI setup for private databases.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
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Related on DEV.co
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liam FAQ
Does Liam store my database credentials or schema data?
Can I self-host Liam or run it offline?
What output formats does Liam support (PNG, PDF, SVG, JSON)?
How often should I regenerate diagrams to keep them synchronized with schema changes?
Software developers & web developers for hire
From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like liam. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across open-source databases and beyond.
Ready to visualize your database schema?
Evaluate Liam for your next documentation or schema review project. Start with a public repo URL or run the CLI setup for private databases.