Jam SQL Studio Jam SQL Studio Blog
News, guides, and tips for SQL developers.
Oracle on Apple Silicon: Connect From an M-Series Mac With No Instant Client
Connect to Oracle from an M1/M2/M3/M4 Mac with no Oracle Instant Client and no Rosetta. Jam SQL Studio uses node-oracledb Thin mode — pure JavaScript, direct TCP, nothing to install — so the ARM64-vs-x86 client question never comes up. Plus the honest Thick-mode limit and when you still need SQL*Plus.
Convert SQL Server Stored Procedures to PostgreSQL: A Worked Example
One realistic T-SQL procedure ported to a PL/pgSQL function, line by line: @param sigils, the DECLARE section, SELECT @x = → INTO, SCOPE_IDENTITY() → RETURNING, OUTPUT params, and result sets → RETURNS TABLE. Plus the transform checklist for the rest.
Convert SQL Server Triggers to PostgreSQL: INSERTED/DELETED → NEW/OLD
The hardest object to port. T-SQL statement-level triggers see row sets via INSERTED/DELETED; PostgreSQL row triggers see one NEW/OLD via a separate function. When per-row is wrong, use statement-level transition tables — the true 1:1. Both forms verified on PostgreSQL 16.
T-SQL to PostgreSQL Function Cheat Sheet
Every common T-SQL built-in and its Postgres equivalent — ISNULL→COALESCE, GETDATE()→now(), LEN→length, CHARINDEX→position, DATEADD→INTERVAL, NEWID()→gen_random_uuid() — plus the five that bite hardest because they don't error. Checked against PostgreSQL 16.
Migrate MySQL to PostgreSQL — Tables, Types & Data
Move MySQL or MariaDB tables to PostgreSQL: schema and data, with tinyint(1)→boolean, datetime→timestamp, AUTO_INCREMENT→IDENTITY, and the unsigned / ENUM gotchas spelled out.
Migrate Oracle to PostgreSQL — Tables, Types & Data
Move Oracle tables to PostgreSQL: schema and data, with VARCHAR2→varchar, NUMBER→numeric/int, the time-carrying DATE→timestamp, and CLOB→text.
Migrate SQL Server to MySQL — Tables, Types & Data
Move SQL Server tables to MySQL: schema and data, with bit→tinyint(1), uniqueidentifier→char(36), datetime2→datetime, and IDENTITY→AUTO_INCREMENT.
How to Migrate SQL Server to PostgreSQL — Tables and Data, Right From the Object Explorer
Skip the conversion project. Right-click a SQL Server table, point it at a Postgres connection, preview the translated CREATE TABLE, and copy schema + data — types, identity, defaults, CHECK, foreign keys, and indexes — with value coercion (bit→boolean, nvarchar(max)→text, datetime2→timestamp). Row counts verified, every manual follow-up flagged.
SQL Server ↔ PostgreSQL Data Type Mapping: The Complete Reference (Both Directions)
Every MSSQL↔Postgres type conversion, both ways, including the traps: SQL Server timestamp is rowversion (→bytea), Postgres bit isn't a boolean, Postgres char types return as N-types, tinyint widens, money loses its spelling. Exactly what the tool emits.
Click Through Your Database: Foreign Key Navigation in Jam SQL Studio
Foreign-key clicks no longer spray new tabs. A clickable breadcrumb tree, a Single-Row Details View, and loose foreign keys as first-class hops — all in one Table Explorer tab. Cmd-click still opens a new tab for users who prefer the old behaviour.
Database Blueprint: a Git-versioned folder of .sql files in sync with your database
Materialize a SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, or SQLite database as a folder of .sql files kept in two-way sync with one or more linked environments. Preview every change, run a three-way merge against a baseline, apply table / view / procedure / function / schema edits via Schema Compare, and use the built-in Git panel to commit, branch, pull, push, and resolve merge conflicts — all without leaving Jam. Table DDL edits in Tables/*.sql round-trip back to the database (SQLite tables cover add / drop column only). And it's not just schema — capture table rows into a tracked Data/ folder and push them back with Sync data folder → DB.
Filter JSON Columns Across 5 SQL Engines: A Hands-On Tour
JSONPath sub-operators, peek popovers for path discovery, validity-guarded text-as-JSON declarations, loose foreign keys and enums on JSON paths — what JSON support in a SQL client should feel like, uniformly on PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, and SQLite.
May 20, 2026Polymorphic Foreign Keys in SQL: Source-Filter Scoping for Rails / Django / Laravel
Model commentable_id / commentable_type-style polymorphic associations and soft-delete-aware references without a real FK — source and target filters on loose foreign keys, with a live peek pane and an overlap-detector that catches the "forgot the discriminator" case.
Enum Columns: A Dropdown Filter for the status / kind / role Columns Your Schema Forgot to Document
Declare any column as an enum — the filter chip becomes a dropdown sourced from MySQL ENUM / Postgres pg_enum, column-level CHECK constraints, or a sampled SELECT DISTINCT. Capped at 200 values, 100k rows, 5s. Works on every engine.
Migrate From MongoDB to Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or SQLite (2026)
Schema mapping, BSON to JSON, drivers, transactions, and engine-by-engine playbooks for migrating off MongoDB — including the Oracle Database API for MongoDB that keeps existing drivers working.
May 14, 2026MongoDB Alternatives in 2026: Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, and More
Ranked MongoDB alternatives for 2026 — relational JSON engines, FerretDB, AWS DocumentDB, ScyllaDB — with a comparison matrix and a "how to choose" decision narrative.
May 12, 2026Oracle JSON Support: From 12c to the Native 21c JSON Type
Oracle's JSON story spans a decade — JSON_VALUE, JSON_TABLE, the IS JSON constraint, the native JSON type in 21c, and a MongoDB-compatible API in 23ai. The full guide.
SQLite JSON: How json1 Turns SQLite into a Document Store
SQLite ships with the json1 extension on by default. How to store, query, and index JSON in SQLite — and why for embedded apps, it can replace MongoDB entirely.
Loose Foreign Keys: Navigate Schemas the Database Doesn't Describe
A logical column-to-column reference the database doesn't enforce — an idea borrowed from NoSQL. When to use one, when not to, how DBeaver / DataGrip / SSMS handle it, and how Jam SQL Studio supports them — including Postgres array columns.
April 28, 2026SQL Server JSON Support: From OPENJSON to the Native JSON Type
SQL Server stored JSON in NVARCHAR(MAX) for years. SQL Server 2022 added a native JSON type. How to query, validate, and index JSON in SQL Server — and how it stacks up against MongoDB.
MySQL JSON Columns: A Practical Guide for SQL Developers
MySQL added a native JSON type in 5.7 and refined it in 8.0 with JSON_TABLE, JSON_VALUE, and multi-valued indexes. How to store, query, and index JSON in MySQL — and when MongoDB still wins.
PostgreSQL JSON and JSONB: The Complete Guide for SQL Developers
PostgreSQL has the most mature JSON support of any relational database. The difference between json and jsonb, GIN indexes, the SQL/JSON path language — and whether you still need MongoDB.
SQL Editor IntelliSense Beyond Autocomplete
Most SQL editors stop at table/column autocomplete. Here's what modern SQL IntelliSense looks like: function parameter hints, column inlay hints, and inline result previews.
April 6, 202610 Query Editor Features for Faster SQL Development
Column profiling, FK navigation, pin results, copy as INSERT, client-side filtering, and more. 10 query editor features that speed up daily SQL work.
April 6, 2026How to Prevent Running Queries on the Wrong Database
Color-coded connections and destructive query confirmation help you avoid running DROP TABLE on production. Here's how to set up visual guardrails in your SQL editor.
March 20, 2026How to Manage SQL Server Agent Jobs on Mac and Linux
Azure Data Studio is retired and SSMS is Windows-only. Here's how to manage SQL Server Agent jobs — view, run, create, and monitor — from your Mac or Linux workstation.
March 19, 2026PL/SQL Debugging on Mac and Linux: The Gap Nobody Filled (Until Now)
For 8+ years, no cross-platform tool shipped a real PL/SQL step-through debugger. DBeaver couldn't do it. SQL Developer was too slow. Toad was Windows-only. Here's how Jam SQL Studio closes the gap.
March 19, 2026AI Skills for SQL Databases: Let Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor Query Your Data
Teach AI coding agents to query SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite with a single skill file. Works with Claude Code, Codex CLI, Cursor, Copilot, and more.
March 13, 2026SSMS for Mac — Best SQL Server Management Studio Alternatives in 2026
SSMS doesn't run on Mac. Here are the best SQL Server Management Studio alternatives for macOS in 2026, compared by features.
March 12, 2026Oracle Database on Mac and Linux: No Oracle Client Required
Connect to Oracle Database from Mac, Linux, or Windows without installing Oracle Client. Learn how Thin mode simplifies Oracle development across platforms.
March 7, 2026Why Your SQL IDE Should Have a Built-in MCP Server
AI coding assistants are everywhere, but they're blind to your database. A built-in MCP server changes that — here's why native beats bolt-on.
March 7, 2026How to Run SQL Server on macOS
Complete guide to running SQL Server on Mac: Azure SQL Edge via Docker, full SQL Server on Parallels with Ubuntu x86, and Windows ARM for SSMS.
February 17, 2026Connect AI Agents to Your Database with MCP
AI coding assistants can write SQL, but they can't see your schema. Learn how to connect Claude, Codex, and other AI agents to your SQL database using Model Context Protocol.
February 17, 2026How to Read SQL Execution Plans (Visual Guide)
Learn to read SQL execution plans step by step. Identify table scans, missing indexes, and common performance problems with this visual guide.
February 17, 2026SQL Notebooks: Run, Document, and Share SQL
Learn how SQL Notebooks help you document workflows, build runbooks, and share analysis. A practical guide with examples for data analysts and SQL developers.
February 17, 2026How to Migrate from Azure Data Studio: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
Step-by-step guide to migrating off Azure Data Studio in 2026: export connections, move SQL files and notebooks, pick a replacement, verify execution plans and schema compare.
February 12, 2026Polyglot Notebooks Are Being Deprecated — What Now?
Polyglot Notebooks, part of the Azure Data Studio ecosystem, are being deprecated alongside ADS. Here's what you lose and what alternatives exist.
February 12, 2026SQLite Is More Powerful Than You Think
When you don't need a client-server database, SQLite might surprise you with its performance, reliability, and simplicity.
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