version: "1.0.0" name: dbcode-cli description: 'Run SQL against connections saved in DBCode using the dbcode command line. Use when a task needs to query, check, or export data from a database the user has set up in DBCode (VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, or another VS Code fork), run a .sql file, get results as JSON or CSV, or script a database check. Covers finding connections, output formats, non-interactive approvals, and exit codes.' license: 'Proprietary. See LICENSE at the repository root.' compatibility: 'Requires the DBCode extension with its CLI installed (run "DBCode: Install CLI" from the command palette) and Node.js 22.14 or newer on PATH.' metadata: author: dbcode docs: https://dbcode.io/docs/cli

DBCode CLI

dbcode runs SQL against the connections the user already saved in DBCode. It reads the same settings as the editor, so there is nothing to configure.

Find the connection first

dbcode connections

The cli column says ok or why a connection cannot be opened; some connection types are not available from the CLI yet. Use the connection name with -c, or its id if two connections share a name.

Run a query

dbcode query -c "My Postgres" "select now()"
dbcode query -c warehouse --file report.sql
cat report.sql | dbcode query -c warehouse --format csv > report.csv

SQL comes from the argument, --file, or stdin. If the SQL starts with a -- comment, put a literal -- before it so the parser does not read it as a flag:

dbcode query -c prod -- "-- daily count
select count(*) from orders"

Output

• When stdout is not a terminal, output is JSON (one array of row objects per result set) and the CLI never prompts.
• --format table|json|jsonl|csv|tsv|markdown. CSV and TSV are byte-identical to the grid's Export.
• Only data goes to stdout. Status lines, the row-limit notice, and errors go to stderr, so piping into jq or a file is safe.

Approvals and safety

The user's environment roles apply exactly as in the editor.

• A statement the role marks "ask" is refused with exit code 4 unless you pass --yes.
• A statement the role denies is refused either way.
• A DELETE or UPDATE without a WHERE clause follows the role's missing-WHERE rule.

Do not pass --yes unless the user asked for that write. Prefer read-only statements for checks.

Other flags

--database and --schema override the connection's defaults. --limit N and --no-limit control the row cap (default: the dbcode.queryRowLimit setting). --timeout S sets the request timeout in seconds.

Exit codes

Limits

• No AI data masking applies on the CLI: you see real data, the same as psql would. If the task needs masking or AI access roles, use DBCode's MCP server instead.
• Passwords follow each connection's "Save password" setting. Prompts go to the terminal, never stdin. Without a terminal, a connection that needs a prompt fails with exit code 3.

Full docs: https://dbcode.io/docs/cli