What Is drawDB and What Can You Do With It?
drawDB is a free, open-source, browser-based tool for designing database schemas as entity-relationship diagrams and generating SQL from them. You draw tables and relationships on a canvas, and drawDB produces DDL for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MariaDB, SQL Server, or Oracle. It fits anyone who wants to sketch a schema visually, model data as a team, or get correct SQL without hand-writing every CREATE TABLE statement. The site states it is open source and needs no account to start, and that it "is, and stays, free and open source," sustained by sponsors.
The core workflow
- Draw the model. Add tables and columns on the canvas and connect them to define relationships. The editor supports undo and keyboard shortcuts for moving quickly.
- Refine types and constraints. Set column types and keys as you go; drawDB flags issues in the diagram so the generated scripts stay correct.
- Generate and export. Produce clean DDL for your target dialect, or save the diagram as JSON or an image. You can also export DBML.
The site's own example schema (users, celestial data, asteroids, missions) shows the intended scale: a handful of related tables rather than a full enterprise data warehouse.
Capabilities beyond diagramming
| Capability | What it does |
|---|---|
| SQL generation | Generates DDL for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle |
| DBML import/export | Round-trips your model through DBML |
| Reverse engineering | Import a DDL script and drawDB rebuilds the diagram instead of you redrawing it |
| Migration generation | Versions the diagram and generates migration scripts to update a database |
| Issue detection | Catches diagram errors before they reach generated scripts |
| Export formats | DDL, JSON, or image |
| Templates | Pre-built templates to start from, plus custom templates you save and reload |
The reverse-engineering path is the one to reach for when you inherit an existing database: paste the DDL, get a diagram, then edit from there.
Collaboration, storage, and self-hosting
- Real-time collaboration — shared cursors, presence, and instant sync across a team.
- Cloud storage — diagrams saved to the cloud and synced across devices.
- Teams and access control — invite teammates, assign roles, and control who can view or edit each diagram.
- Self-hosting — the site lists running it on your own infrastructure as an option.
- AI schema assistant — describe what you need and it drafts tables, relationships, and types.
The site reports 39.9k+ developers and 39.9k GitHub stars, with 3.4k forks and 51 languages.
When drawDB is a good fit
- Quick schema sketching — you want a diagram and SQL in one session without installing anything.
- Team data modeling — multiple people need to edit the same model live with roles and access control.
- Generating SQL without writing DDL by hand — you know the tables and relationships but not the exact dialect syntax.
- Working from an existing schema — reverse engineering saves redrawing a database you already have.
- Keeping models in version control — JSON export and migration generation let you track schema changes over time.
If your need is a one-off diagram with no SQL output, a general-purpose drawing tool may be lighter. If you need dialect-specific DDL, DBML interchange, or live multi-user editing, drawDB targets exactly that.
Practical notes
- The site lists a pricing page, so check it directly for current plan details rather than assuming every feature is free — the open-source core and sponsor model are stated, but paid tiers may exist.
- No account is needed to try the editor, per the site; cloud storage, teams, and collaboration features are where accounts and plans typically come in.
- Because it runs in the browser, you need JavaScript enabled.