Open-Source Databases · surrealdb

surrealist

Surrealist is a visual management tool for SurrealDB that runs as both a web app and desktop application. It provides a graphical interface for querying, exploring data, designing schemas, and managing SurrealDB instances including cloud deployments.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/surrealdb/surrealist

1.3k

GitHub stars

115

Forks

TypeScript

Primary language

MIT

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	surrealdb/surrealist
Owner	surrealdb
Primary language	TypeScript
License	MIT — OSI-approved
Stars	1.3k
Forks	115
Open issues	41
Latest release	surrealist-v3.9.5 (2026-06-29)
Last updated	2026-07-08
Source	https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealist

What surrealist is

TypeScript/React-based desktop (Tauri) and web application for SurrealDB interaction, offering query execution with syntax highlighting, schema visualization, stored procedure management, GraphQL support, and integrated AI assistance. Supports multiple deployment targets: Linux, macOS, Windows, and browser-based access.

Quickstart

Get the surrealist source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealist.git2cd surrealist3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Visual database exploration and ad-hoc querying

Teams managing SurrealDB instances benefit from interactive query building, syntax highlighting, saved queries, and graph visualization without writing client applications.

SurrealDB Cloud instance provisioning and monitoring

Integrated management panel for SurrealDB Cloud allows teams to provision instances, manage billing, and monitor usage directly within the UI.

Schema design and collaboration

Visual schema designer generates diagrams of database structure, supporting schema planning, documentation, and shared understanding across development teams.

Implementation considerations

Desktop app (Tauri-based) is recommended over web app; web app provides quickest start but desktop supports local database serving and file operations.
Remote connections require HTTPS. Plan SSL configuration (e.g., Let's Encrypt, nginx) for remote SurrealDB instances.
AI assistant ('Sidekick') mentioned as integrated feature; vendor, data retention, and operational dependencies not specified—requires clarification before production use.
Project aims to track latest stable SurrealDB releases; nightly build support is not guaranteed.
41 open issues at time of snapshot; review backlog for blockers relevant to your workflow.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Programmatic database automation at scale — Surrealist is a UI tool, not an API or automation framework. Teams requiring bulk operations, scripted migrations, or infrastructure-as-code should use SurrealDB SDKs or CLI directly.
Offline-only operation required — Web app requires internet; desktop app requires SurrealDB connection. Not suitable for fully disconnected environments.
Enterprise air-gapped deployments without inspection — No data on air-gap support or enterprise deployment hardening. Requires security review before use in restricted network environments.
Multi-tenant isolation or fine-grained RBAC via UI — Manage access rules is mentioned but scope and granularity of role-based controls within the tool are not detailed.

License & commercial use

Licensed under MIT (MIT License), a permissive OSI-approved license permitting commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability waiver.

MIT license permits commercial use without royalties or vendor permission. However, this covers only Surrealist itself. Ensure your SurrealDB hosting (self-hosted or Cloud) complies with its own licensing terms. No warranty or liability protection beyond the MIT license; review SurrealDB's commercial terms separately.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Strong
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Low
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

No security audit results, penetration test reports, or vulnerability disclosure policy provided in README. HTTPS requirement noted for remote connections. Desktop app runs locally; web app hosted by SurrealDB. AI assistant (Sidekick) data handling, logging, and retention unknown—requires vendor documentation. User authentication and access control features exist but details sparse. Recommend security review of Sidekick and data handling before use in regulated environments.

Alternatives to consider

SurrealDB CLI (surreal)

Native command-line tool for SurrealDB; better for scripting and CI/CD but lacks visual schema design and interactive exploration.

DBeaver (with SurrealDB plugin/JDBC driver)

Universal database IDE with broad database support; more mature RBAC and enterprise features but may lack SurrealDB-specific optimizations.

Custom web UI (React/TypeScript)

Building a bespoke interface using SurrealDB SDKs grants full control over UX and integrations but requires significant engineering effort.

Software development agency

Build on surrealist with DEV.co software developers

Start with the free web app at app.surrealdb.com or download the desktop version to unlock local database serving and advanced schema design. MIT-licensed and actively maintained by SurrealDB.

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surrealist FAQ

Can I use Surrealist to manage multiple SurrealDB instances?

Yes. The tool supports connecting to any SurrealDB instance. Multiple connections are possible, but no multi-instance state management or bulk operations across instances are documented.

Does Surrealist work offline?

No. The web app requires internet. The desktop app requires a live connection to a SurrealDB instance. There is no offline mode.

Is the AI assistant (Sidekick) included in the open-source version?

Sidekick is listed as a feature in the README, but vendor/SaaS vs. open-source inclusion and data handling are not specified. Requires clarification.

Can I self-host Surrealist?

The web app is hosted at app.surrealdb.com. Desktop app is a standard Tauri application. Self-hosting the web app via source build is possible (MIT license permits it), but no official self-hosting documentation is visible in the README.

Software development & web development with DEV.co

From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like surrealist. 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 Simplify SurrealDB Management?

Start with the free web app at app.surrealdb.com or download the desktop version to unlock local database serving and advanced schema design. MIT-licensed and actively maintained by SurrealDB.

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