Jam SQL Studio The Polyglot Notebooks Alternative
for SQL Professionals
Polyglot Notebooks (formerly .NET Interactive Notebooks) is being deprecated alongside Azure Data Studio. Jam SQL Studio picks up where it left off — with multi-engine support, GUI connections, and AI integration.
Free for personal use • Open your .ipynb files directly • Mac, Windows, Linux
Deprecation Timeline
Microsoft recommends the VS Code Jupyter extension — which has no SQL kernel, no IntelliSense, and no connection management.
Jam SQL Studio vs Polyglot Notebooks
A side-by-side comparison of SQL notebook capabilities.
| Feature | Jam SQL Studio | Polyglot Notebooks |
|---|---|---|
| SQL Cells with Execution | ✓ | ✓ |
| JavaScript Cells | ✓ | ✓ |
| Markdown Cells | ✓ + Formatting Toolbar | ✓ Raw Markdown |
| SQL Engines | ✓ 4 engines (MSSQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite) | MSSQL only |
| GUI Connection Management | ✓ Built-in | ✗ Magic commands only |
| IntelliSense for SQL | ✓ All engines | T-SQL only |
| Session Persistence (Temp Tables) | ✓ | ✓ |
| .ipynb Compatibility | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI / MCP Integration | ✓ Built-in | ✗ |
| Claude Code CLI Integrated | ✓ | ✗ |
| C# / F# Cells | ✗ | ✓ |
| Python Cells | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mac / Linux Native | ✓ | VS Code ext. |
| Run All Sequential | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Cell Reordering | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keyboard Shortcuts (Command/Edit Mode) | ✓ Jupyter-style | Limited |
| Status | ✓ Active development | ✗ Deprecated |
| Price | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
Migrate in 4 Steps
Download Jam SQL Studio
Free for Mac, Windows, and Linux. No account required.
Open Your .ipynb Files
Use More > Open Notebook to open any existing .ipynb file. SQL and JavaScript cells work immediately. C# and F# cells are imported as Markdown with the source preserved.
Set Up Connections via GUI
Instead of magic commands like #!connect, set up connections through the GUI connection manager. Select a connection and database from the notebook toolbar.
Run Your Notebooks
Execute cells individually or use Run All. Temp tables and session variables persist across cells, just like in Polyglot Notebooks.
What Jam SQL Adds
Multi-Engine Support
Connect to SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite from the same notebook. Polyglot Notebooks only supported SQL Server.
GUI Connection Management
No magic commands needed. Set up, save, and switch connections through a visual interface with the same auth methods you already use.
AI Agent Support
AI Chat Sidebar powered by your locally installed Claude Code CLI — no extra subscription required. Plus AI Workspace and a local MCP server for safe, policy-controlled agent queries.
Markdown Formatting Toolbar
One-click bold, italic, headings, lists, code blocks, and links. No need to remember Markdown syntax.
IntelliSense for All Engines
Context-aware SQL autocomplete for every supported database. Polyglot Notebooks only had T-SQL IntelliSense.
Jupyter-Style Keyboard Shortcuts
Command mode and Edit mode with familiar shortcuts: A/B for insert, DD for delete, M/Y for convert, arrow keys for navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open my Polyglot .ipynb files in Jam SQL Studio?
Yes. Use More > Open Notebook and select your .ipynb file. SQL and JavaScript cells are preserved as executable code cells. C# and F# cells are imported as Markdown cells with the source code shown in code fences.
Does Jam SQL Studio support C# and F# cells?
No. Jam SQL Studio focuses on SQL and JavaScript for data professionals. C# and F# cells from Polyglot Notebooks are imported as Markdown with the source preserved in code fences, so you can still read the code.
Does Jam SQL Studio work on Mac and Linux?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio is a native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Unlike Polyglot Notebooks (a VS Code extension), it provides a dedicated SQL development experience.
What databases does Jam SQL Studio support?
SQL Server (including Azure SQL), PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and SQLite. Polyglot Notebooks only supported SQL Server connections.
Do temp tables persist across cells?
Yes. All code cells in a Jam SQL notebook share a pinned database session. Temp tables, session variables, and SET options created in one cell are available in all subsequent cells — the same behavior as Polyglot Notebooks.
Ready to Migrate from Polyglot Notebooks?
Download Jam SQL Studio free and open your .ipynb files directly.