sql-parser
sql-parser is a C++ library that converts SQL query strings into structured C++ objects for parsing and analysis. Originally built for the Hyrise database engine, it can be integrated into other C++ projects requiring SQL statement parsing.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | hyrise/sql-parser |
| Owner | hyrise |
| Primary language | C++ |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 808 |
| Forks | 263 |
| Open issues | 49 |
| Latest release | Unknown |
| Last updated | 2025-10-30 |
| Source | https://github.com/hyrise/sql-parser |
What sql-parser is
A MIT-licensed C++ SQL parser that tokenizes and builds abstract syntax tree (AST) representations of SQL statements. Provides type-safe statement objects (SelectStatement, etc.) accessible via a result container, with compilation to shared library (.so) and straightforward header-only integration.
Get the sql-parser source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/hyrise/sql-parser.gitcd sql-parser# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires C++ build toolchain (make, compiler) and manual compilation to .so; no pre-built binaries documented. Verify build compatibility with your target architecture and compiler version.
- API uses pointer-based result access (getStatement, type casting); memory ownership and lifetime must be carefully managed to avoid leaks or dangling pointers in your integration.
- Test suite included (make test); run tests post-integration to validate correctness against your SQL grammar expectations and catch parser regressions.
- No package manager distribution evident (no Conan, vcpkg entries mentioned); include as vendored dependency or build from source in your CI/CD pipeline.
- Header files must be copied or installed to system/include paths; document installation path clearly for team builds and avoid brittle absolute path assumptions.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Runtime SQL Compilation Needed — If your application requires compiling arbitrary SQL at scale with minimal latency overhead, the parsing cost and C++ compilation/linking cycle may not suit high-throughput query engines.
- Multi-Dialect Support Required — The parser is tuned for standard SQL; if you need PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, or other dialect-specific extensions out of the box, this library offers limited dialect flexibility.
- Non-C++ Ecosystem — Projects primarily in Python, Java, Node.js, or Go should use language-native SQL parsers rather than wrapping this C++ library via FFI, which adds complexity and maintenance overhead.
- High Availability / Production SLA — No versioned releases since inception (latestRelease: none), archived status is false but release cadence is unclear; production deployments require confidence in maintenance commitment.
License & commercial use
Licensed under MIT License (permissive OSI standard). Full terms in LICENSE file; no copyleft or commercial restrictions.
MIT License permits commercial use, distribution, and modification without royalty or proprietary clause. Review LICENSE file in your copy to confirm terms; no warranty implied. For commercial SLAs or indemnification, engagement with maintainers or legal review is recommended.
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 |
Parser operates on untrusted SQL input; verify that malformed or adversarial SQL does not trigger buffer overflows, stack exhaustion, or DoS via pathological grammars. No security audit, fuzzing results, or CVE history documented. Recommend security testing in your integration environment before production use.
Alternatives to consider
libpg_query (PostgreSQL)
If PostgreSQL dialect is acceptable, libpg_query leverages PostgreSQL's battle-tested parser with extensive dialect support and stable releases.
sqlparse (Python) or antlr4 (multi-language)
For projects not committed to C++, Python sqlparse or ANTLR4-based grammars offer better ecosystem integration, more active maintenance, and wider dialect coverage.
Presto/Trino parser (Java)
If Java is viable, Presto's SQL parser is production-hardened, regularly released, and used by major query engines; accessible via JDBC or embedding.
Build on sql-parser with DEV.co software developers
If you're building a C++ system that needs to parse and analyze SQL statements, sql-parser offers a lightweight, permissively licensed foundation. Review the code, run the test suite in your environment, and confirm dialect support matches your SQL workload before committing to integration.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
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sql-parser FAQ
What SQL statements does this parser support?
Can I use this in a multithreaded application?
Are pre-built binaries available?
What is the performance overhead of parsing?
Work with a software development agency
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Evaluate sql-parser for Your Project
If you're building a C++ system that needs to parse and analyze SQL statements, sql-parser offers a lightweight, permissively licensed foundation. Review the code, run the test suite in your environment, and confirm dialect support matches your SQL workload before committing to integration.