ravelantunes/Searchlight

README

Searchlight - Postgres MacOS Client

Searchlight is a native macOS, open-source PostgreSQL client designed to be simple, lightweight, and developer-friendly. It offers a clean and intuitive interface for managing databases and running queries without the complexity of full-scale database management tools. Searchlight focuses on delivering a smooth and efficient experience for developers who need quick and easy access to their PostgreSQL databases.

Installation

Download the latest release from the Releases Page.

I’m using my personal Apple developer account so I can’t notarize the app with Apple. If you try to install from the GitHub releases page MacOS will warn that it can’t verify the developer identity, so you will need to approve the install on Settings > Privacy, or build from source.

Current Features

Connection Management

Save and manage favorite connections
SSH tunnel support with key-based authentication
SSL/TLS connection support

Database Browser

Browse databases, schemas, and tables
Quick search and filter on table data
Foreign key relationship linking — click to navigate to related records
Column statistics popover — view unique values, null counts, and value distribution charts

Data Manipulation

Insert new rows directly in the table
Copy cell value, row, columns in different formats
Auto-complete/data look-up from foreign key references when inserting data
Export formats: Plain text, CSV, SQL INSERT statements

Query Editor

Free-form SQL query execution
SQL LSP support for autocompletion, diagnostics, and hover documentation

Building from Source

Clone the repository
Open Searchlight.xcodeproj in Xcode
Build twice (⌘B, ⌘B) — the first build downloads dependencies, the second includes them
Run (⌘R)

The first build automatically downloads the Postgres Language Server binary (~16MB) for SQL autocompletion, syntax checking, and hover documentation. A second build is needed to bundle it into the app.

Note: The LSP binary is only for Apple Silicon (arm64).

Tech Stack

Swift & SwiftUI — Native macOS app with AppKit integration for advanced table views
PostgresKit / PostgresNIO — PostgreSQL driver with connection pooling
SwiftNIO — Async networking foundation
System SSH — Native SSH tunnel support using macOS system tools
Postgres Language Server — SQL intelligence (autocompletion, diagnostics, hover docs)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to open issues or submit pull requests.

License

See LICENSE for details.