Franchise
Notebook-style SQL client that runs entirely in the browser with DuckDB
Overview
Franchise is a lightweight, notebook-style SQL client that runs entirely in the browser using DuckDB-WASM, requiring zero server setup. Users can query local CSV/JSON files, connect to PostgreSQL or MySQL via an optional relay server, and build charts inline. Distributed as a single HTML file or a tiny Node.js server for teams.
Where it falls short of Retool
- Project has had minimal maintenance since 2022; compatibility with modern browsers may degrade
- Remote database connections require a separately hosted relay proxy to avoid CORS issues
- No user authentication, access control, or saved query sharing for teams
We list the gaps honestly so you can decide if the trade-off is worth owning your data.
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