dolphie
Dolphie is a Python-based terminal UI for real-time monitoring and analytics of MySQL, MariaDB, and ProxySQL instances. It provides a dashboard for viewing processlist, replication status, metadata locks, and performance metrics in a single pane of glass.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | charles-001/dolphie |
| Owner | charles-001 |
| Primary language | Python |
| License | GPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.2k |
| Forks | 79 |
| Open issues | 1 |
| Latest release | 6.15.0 (2026-06-04) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-04 |
| Source | https://github.com/charles-001/dolphie |
What dolphie is
GPL-3.0 licensed Python 3.9+ application offering terminal-based SQL server monitoring via direct connections (TCP/socket/SSL). Supports MySQL 5.6–9.x, MariaDB 5.5–11.x+, ProxySQL 2.6+, with replay/daemon modes for data recording and asynchronous collection.
Get the dolphie source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/charles-001/dolphie.gitcd dolphie# 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 Python 3.9+ and network/socket connectivity to each monitored instance; SSH tunnel recommended for remote access.
- Credential storage (config files, environment variables, mysql_config_editor) must be handled securely; plaintext passwords in config are a risk.
- Replay/daemon modes can consume significant disk space; monitor log and data directory growth in production.
- SSL/TLS support available (REQUIRED/VERIFY_CA/VERIFY_IDENTITY); configure certificates for encrypted connections to RDS/Azure instances.
- Refresh intervals (default 1s) impact CPU and database load; tune based on your monitoring needs and instance capacity.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Need web UI or remote agent-based architecture — Dolphie is terminal-only and requires direct SSH or network access to database hosts; no web interface or pull-based agent model.
- Require long-term metric retention and alerting — Designed for real-time inspection, not time-series storage or triggered notifications. Replay mode stores local files; not intended as a primary monitoring database.
- GPL-3.0 license incompatible with your codebase — Strong copyleft: any modifications or derivative works must remain GPL-3.0. Embedding in proprietary applications requires legal review.
- Minimal Python 3.9+ environment or restricted package access — Requires PyPI or Homebrew/Docker availability. Not suitable for air-gapped or highly constrained deployments without pre-staging.
License & commercial use
GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0): strong copyleft, requires source disclosure and GPL compliance for modifications or distributions.
Commercial use of Dolphie as-is (unmodified, standalone tool) is permitted under GPL-3.0. Any modifications, bundling with proprietary systems, or resale require: (1) source code availability, (2) GPL-3.0 licensing of derivatives, and (3) legal review. Requires counsel before incorporating into SaaS or commercial offerings.
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 |
Direct database credentials required; use ssl-mode REQUIRED/VERIFY_CA/VERIFY_IDENTITY for encrypted connections. Credentials can be stored in config files, environment variables, or mysql_config_editor; plaintext password files pose risk. TUI input is not logged; debug mode exposes sensitive data. No built-in authentication or audit trail. Ensure network access to database is restricted and config file permissions are locked (600).
Alternatives to consider
Percona Monitoring and Management (PMM)
Web-based, agent/pull architecture, multi-host dashboards, alerting, and native Prometheus integration. More heavyweight; AGPL-2.0 licensed.
MySQL Workbench (Performance Schema tools)
GUI-based, includes schema design, SQL editor, and basic monitoring. Proprietary dual-license (GPL + commercial). Heavier footprint, not terminal-native.
innotop / mytop
Lightweight, terminal-based MySQL monitoring alternatives. Less feature-rich than Dolphie; older and less actively maintained.
Build on dolphie with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate Dolphie for real-time database troubleshooting. Confirm GPL-3.0 compliance with your legal team before production deployment. Contact us for architecture and integration guidance.
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dolphie FAQ
Can I use Dolphie in a production SaaS platform?
Does Dolphie work with AWS RDS Aurora?
Can I export or integrate Dolphie data with Prometheus or Grafana?
What happens if I modify Dolphie and distribute it?
Software developers & web developers for hire
DEV.co is a software development agency delivering custom software development services to companies building on open source. Our software developers and web developers design, integrate, and ship production systems — spanning web development, APIs, AI, data, and cloud. If dolphie is part of your open-source observability roadmap, our team can implement, customize, migrate, and maintain it.
Integrate Dolphie into Your Monitoring Stack
Evaluate Dolphie for real-time database troubleshooting. Confirm GPL-3.0 compliance with your legal team before production deployment. Contact us for architecture and integration guidance.