ChartDB

ChartDB is an open-source, web-based database diagramming editor for visualizing and designing relational database schemas. It generates diagrams from a single “smart query” result, letting you model and review schemas without granting ChartDB direct database access.

Key Features

• One-query schema import that converts your database schema into a diagram
• Interactive ERD editor to adjust tables, relationships, and annotations
• Export diagrams as images and export schema as SQL/DDL scripts
• AI-assisted DDL generation to help convert between SQL dialects (optional)
• Supports multiple databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, and others
• Runs in the browser and can be deployed via Docker

Use Cases

• Quickly document an existing database schema for teams and stakeholders
• Design or refactor schemas visually before applying migrations
• Generate DDL for cross-database migration planning and review

Limitations and Considerations

• AI export features require configuring an external LLM endpoint (for example via an API key or custom inference server)
• Schema import relies on database-specific “smart query” output, so results may vary across supported engines

ChartDB is a practical tool for fast schema visualization and collaborative database design workflows. It is well-suited for teams that want ER diagrams and exportable DDL without providing direct database credentials to the diagramming tool.