Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites VS htmx

Compare SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites VS htmx and see what are their differences

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites logo SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites

Build full web applications using just SQL queries

htmx logo htmx

high power tools for HTML
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites Homepage
    Homepage //
    2025-03-03
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites SQLPage's Homepage is written in... SQLPage!
    SQLPage's Homepage is written in... SQLPage! //
    2024-12-02
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites SQLPage card component
    SQLPage card component //
    2024-12-02
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites A form built in SQLPage
    A form built in SQLPage //
    2024-12-02
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites sqlpage editor demo
    sqlpage editor demo //
    2025-03-03
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites Bompard, a french luxury company, built their performance monitoring tool in SQLPage
    Bompard, a french luxury company, built their performance monitoring tool in SQLPage //
    2024-12-02
  • SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites A school headmaster built an app for his school, alone.
    A school headmaster built an app for his school, alone. //
    2024-12-02

Description

SQLPage is an open-source tool designed for building dynamic web applications quickly, directly from database queries. It focuses on simplicity, allowing data people to leverage SQL expertise to create database-driven web apps. It supports PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL, and SQL Server.


Strengths

  • SQL-Centric Development: Removes the many layers of complexity traditionally involved in building apps. No frontend or backend framework.
  • Full CRUD Support: Goes beyond dashboard tools by enabling dynamic user interactions like form submissions, updates, and deletions.
  • Extensibility: Offers customizable built-in components (tables, forms, charts, maps, etc.) that adapt to different visualization needs.
  • Lightweight and Efficient: Distributed as a single executable, SQLPage is built in Rust for performance and security.
  • Open Source: Completely free and highly customizable for unique project requirements.

Comparison with Alternatives

  • Vs. Retool/Appsmith: SQLPage offers deeper SQL integration and flexibility to build custom tools but currently lacks the drag-and-drop UI and integrations of No-Code tools.
  • Vs. Airtable/Knack: SQLPage supports more complex queries and dynamic interactions but requires a more technical skillset to set up and manage.
  • Vs. Traditional Frameworks (e.g., Django, Ruby on Rails): Faster setup and iteration for database-driven apps but less flexibility when advanced code-based workflows are deeply integrated into the UI.
  • Vs. BI Tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker): Adds interactivity and CRUD operations, but fewer advanced graph types.

SQLPage excels in scenarios where rapid development of data-driven web applications is needed, especially for custom tools, prototypes, or admin panels.

  • htmx Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-25

htmx gives you access to AJAX, CSS Transitions, WebSockets and Server Sent Events directly in HTML, using attributes, so you can build modern user interfaces with the simplicity and power of hypertext

htmx is small (~14k min.gz’d), dependency-free, extendable, IE11 compatible & has reduced code base sizes by 67% when compared with react

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites features and specs

  • SQL Execution
    Short learning curve, easy to use, interoperable with existing tools.
  • Data Visualization
    Visualize your data not only as classical charts, but also as interactive maps, lists, data cards, forms and much more
  • Forms
    Quickly build forms to insert data into your database

htmx features and specs

  • Ease of Integration
    htmx allows developers to easily add dynamic, AJAX-powered interactions to existing HTML without requiring significant rework or the use of heavier JavaScript frameworks.
  • Server-Side Rendering
    htmx leverages the benefits of server-side rendering and progressive enhancement, ensuring better SEO, faster initial load times, and improved accessibility.
  • Reduced JavaScript
    With htmx, much of the interactivity can be managed using HTML attributes, resulting in less custom JavaScript code and potentially fewer bugs and maintenance challenges.
  • Progressive Enhancement
    htmx supports a progressive enhancement approach, allowing features to be enhanced progressively without breaking the fundamental user experience for those with JavaScript disabled.
  • Declarative Style
    htmx advocates for a declarative style of programming which can make code more readable and maintainable by clearly expressing the intended behavior in HTML.

Possible disadvantages of htmx

  • Limited Ecosystem
    The ecosystem around htmx is still relatively small compared to larger JavaScript frameworks, which means fewer resources, libraries, and community support are available.
  • Potential for Complexity in Large Apps
    For large-scale applications, managing interactivity solely with htmx might become cumbersome. Combining htmx with more robust state management solutions could be necessary, complicating the architecture.
  • Learning Curve
    While not as steep as some frameworks, there is a learning curve associated with understanding htmx’s attributes and integrating it effectively into existing projects.
  • Fragmentation Risk
    Relying too heavily on server-side partials and asynchronous updates can lead to fragmentation, where the logic of the application is split between the client and server, making it harder to manage and debug.
  • Limited Explicit State Management
    htmx lacks built-in state management solutions that are common in other front-end frameworks, potentially requiring additional tools to manage complex application state.

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites videos

SQLPage — Building a full web application with nothing but Postgres and SQL queries

More videos:

  • Tutorial - SQLPage tutorial video series
  • Demo - Introduction to SQLPage

htmx videos

DjangoCon Europe 2023 | HTMX vs WASM - more backend or more frontend?

More videos:

  • Review - Dynamic Web Pages Without JavaScript? - Intro to HTMX

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites and htmx)
Developer Tools
32 32%
68% 68
Javascript UI Libraries
10 10%
90% 90
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0
Software Development
0 0%
100% 100

Questions and Answers

As answered by people managing SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites and htmx.

What makes your product unique?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

SQLPage enables creating web apps entirely with SQL, bypassing traditional web programming languages, while producing clean, functional web pages.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

  1. Simplified Development:

    • Unlike traditional web frameworks (e.g., Django, Flask, or Ruby on Rails), SQLPage eliminates the need for separate programming layers. Applications are built using SQL directly, reducing complexity and time-to-market.
    • Tools like Microsoft Access or Airtable focus on low-code development but often involve proprietary systems or limited web integration. SQLPage, being open-source, provides better customization and scalability.
  2. Direct Database Integration:

    • Compared to BI tools like Tableau or Power BI, which offer visualizations but lack direct data modification, SQLPage integrates with relational databases for both read and write operations.
    • SQLPage also offers support for multiple database types (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server) without relying on intermediate APIs or additional query tools.
  3. Full Web Application Support:

    • SQLPage supports dynamic components (forms, charts, etc.) and HTTP functionalities like authentication and JSON API creation, which many BI tools or visualization platforms lack.
    • Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal offer dynamic content capabilities but require PHP, templates, and plugins. SQLPage achieves similar results with a simpler SQL-based model.
  4. Performance and Security:

    • Unlike server-side frameworks that often require substantial middleware (Node.js, Python servers), SQLPage is lightweight and Rust-based, delivering faster performance and secure-by-default implementations.
    • It also protects against common vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS) without requiring developers to manage these themselves, unlike in raw frameworks or traditional web servers.
  5. Cost-Effectiveness and Open Source:

    • SQLPage is free and open-source, offering significant advantages over proprietary platforms or tools that charge per user or usage (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable).

Best Use Case: SQLPage excels for users looking to quickly build interactive, data-driven web applications without investing in a complex tech stack or expensive proprietary platforms.

How would you describe your primary audience?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

Data scientists, analysts, and business intelligence teams who need to create data-driven applications without a deep expertise in web development or a lot of time to get from idea to production.

What's the story behind your product?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

SQLPage was designed to simplify the process of building web apps by leveraging SQL as the sole development language, reducing complexity and focusing on declarative, data-centric application design.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

Rust for the backend. actix-web for handling HTTP requests. Handlebars for rendering HTML templates. Tabler for clean UI components.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites's answer

Eric Bompard, the Must-Have Cashmere Brand

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, htmx should be more popular than SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites. It has been mentiond 117 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites mentions (20)

  • The Demise of the Mildly Dynamic Website
    This article resonates with me. I do love "mildly dynamic websites", and have fond memories of my days hacking together PHP websites 15 years ago. And what I am working on today might be called a bridge for the "dynamicity gap". I'm making an open source server to write web apps entirely in SQL ( https://sql.ophir.dev/ ). It has the "one file per page" logic of PHP, and makes it easy to add bits of dynamic... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • SQLPage – Building a full web application with nothing but SQL queries [video]
    Saving a few clicks for readers: Project page: https://sql.ophir.dev/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Bruno
    I am currently looking for a solution to run automated tests on a sql website generator I am working on ( https://sql.ophir.dev ) I wanted to use hurl (https://hurl.dev/), but Bruno's UI seems to be useful while developing the tests... Has someone tried both ? Which is better for automated testing, including when the response type is html and not json? - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Apache Superset
    Full fledged BI tools like Superset and Metabase are amazing for their intended use cases. But they may be an overkill if your primary use case is to infrequently build semi-interactive reports for non-technical end-users and your use cases are are mostly covered by standard graphs & tables. Esp. So if you are familiar with SQL and have access to the underlying data source. Two nifty utilities I have found to be... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • PostgREST: Providing HTML Content Using Htmx
    I feel obligated to add a shameless plug here. The idea is very close to a project I presented at pgconf.eu last week: SQLPage https://sql.ophir.dev/ SQLPage has the same goal as postgrest+htmx, but is a little bit higher level. It let's you build your application using prepackaged components you can invoke directly from SQL, without having to write any HTML, CSS, or JS. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

htmx mentions (117)

  • The 3 Best Python Frameworks To Build UIs for AI Apps
    FastHTML allows developers to build modern web applications entirely in Python without touching JavaScript or React. As its name implies, it is quicker to begin with FastHTML. However, it does not have pre-built UI components and styling. Getting the best out of this framework requires the knowledge of HTMX and UI styling using CSS libraries like Tailwind and Bootstrap. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Build a Bookmark Manager with the HONC Stack
    Import { bookmarks } from './src/db/schema'; ... Const sampleBookmarks = [ { title: "Hono Framework", url: "https://hono.dev", description: "A lightweight web framework for building APIs and applications.", tags: "hono, framework, edge", }, { title: "Drizzle ORM", url: "https://orm.drizzle.team", description: "A type-safe ORM designed for SQL databases.", tags: "orm, database,... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • An advanced Data Table with HTMX
    HTMX: The library that makes this approach possible. HTMX allows the development of applications with HTML and HTTP, but by lifting a whole set of limitations, particularly by allowing interaction with the server without necessarily reloading the entire page. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Summer Web Internship: Low-JavaScript Development for 🧶Knitters/Crocheters (US Only)
    We're looking for a fiber arts hobbyist who wants to create a low-Javascript web experience as part of a flexible, self-led summer internship. HTMX experience is not necessary — you just have to be excited about HTML/CSS and have a strong interest in doing low-Javascript web development. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Your API Doesn’t Always Need to Be a Product
    The Single-Page Application trend gained popularity partly because it allowed developers to avoid full page reloads during navigation or form submissions. HTMX has been generating buzz recently precisely because it enables bypassing full document reloads. At the same time, it sticks to a document-based approach for browser/server interactions. This eliminates the need to retrofit JSON API constraints.... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SQLPage - Build SQL-only websites and htmx, you can also consider the following products

Postgres.js - Postgres.js - The Fastest full featured PostgreSQL client for Node.js - porsager/postgres

Alpine.js - A rugged, minimal framework for composing JavaScript behavior in your markup.

Gio UI - Gio is an open source library for creating portable, immediate mode GUI programs for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS.

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

JDBI - See this.

Vue.js - Reactive Components for Modern Web Interfaces