A database client for macOS, Windows and Linux: MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, Valkey, MongoDB and Elasticsearch in one window, a tab per connection — local servers, through SSH, on AWS with IAM, or with credentials from Vault. Production mode asks before every write, read-only stays read-only, and an optional AI writes the query while you press Run.
Part of Catzoid — free, open-source developer tools with nine lives. All cats, no catch: no
account, no Pro tier, nothing locked behind a payment.
What it does
- Connect by hand, over SSH, with AWS IAM or Vault — or paste a URL (
postgres://…, a whole DATABASE_URL= line works too). Passwords stay in the macOS Keychain, encrypted for your account on Windows, and on Linux encrypted with a key your desktop keyring keeps.
- Browse and edit — data grid with filters, structure, indexes, export and import, a query editor with history.
- Production safety — Production and Read-only modes per connection, typed confirmations for risky statements.
- AI, optional — Ask in plain words; only structure is sent, never your rows unless you allow samples.
- The family — databases DevCatz runs show up by themselves; DialCatz opens the table a request touched.
Install
Download the DMG from catzoid.com/dbcatz/download — it picks the right
build for your Mac (Apple silicon or Intel, macOS 13 or later). Or with Homebrew — it asks you to trust a tap
that is not its own the first time:
brew tap catzoidhub/catz && brew trust catzoidhub/catz
brew install --cask dbcatz
The app is signed and notarized by Apple and updates itself (Settings → About → Check for Updates).
Windows 10 / 11 (x64): DBCatz-Setup-<version>.exe from the same page or the
latest release. It installs for your account only, no
administrator rights needed. It is not code-signed yet (see Code signing below).
Linux (x64): DBCatz-<version>-x64.AppImage or DBCatz-<version>-amd64.deb from the same page or the
latest release. The AppImage offers to install itself into
~/Applications with a menu entry on its first run; the .deb suits Ubuntu and Debian. Neither is signed yet.
Build from source
bun install
bun run dev # run it in development
bun run typecheck
bun run package # a signed DMG in dist/ (notarized when a notarytool profile is set up)
Found a bug? Use Help → Report a Bug… in the app, or open an issue.
Code signing
macOS builds are signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple. The Windows installer is not code-signed yet:
the SignPath Foundation, which signs open-source projects for free, asks for a project with more history and public
use than DBCatz has today, and paid certificates are out of reach for now. Windows SmartScreen therefore warns when you
open the installer: choose More info → Run anyway. The installer is built by GitHub Actions from this repository,
so what you run is this source. Linux packages are built by GitHub Actions from this repository too, and are not signed either. Stars, issues and pull requests help DBCatz qualify for free signing later. Policy:
catzoid.com/legal/code-signing.
How it is made
DBCatz is made by one person, with two others helping, and its code is written together with
Claude by Anthropic, an AI assistant. They decide what the cat does, designs
it, tries every feature on a real computer and reviews every change before it ships — Claude writes and explains the
code with them. Every commit Claude helped with says so (Co-Authored-By: Claude), so you can read, test or question
any of it. Found something that looks wrong? Open an issue — a person reads every report.
Catzoid is an independent project; it is not made, sponsored or endorsed by Anthropic.
Licence
DBCatz is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 3. It comes with no warranty. See LICENSE.
The names Catzoid and DBCatz and the Catzoid cat are trademarks and are not covered by the licence: a fork must
use its own name and icon. See TRADEMARKS.md.
Contributions are welcome — see CONTRIBUTING.md. Before your first pull request is merged you
sign the contributor licence agreement through the CLA check on the pull request — you keep the copyright of
your work. Questions and bug reports: SUPPORT.md; security problems, privately: SECURITY.md.
Copyright © 2026 Mahryan Rakhmatullah
