poorsql.com

What It Is

PoorSQL is an instant formatting tool for T-SQL, based on the Poor Man's T-SQL Formatter library. It can be used directly on the web, or integrated into daily workflows via downloadable SSMS / Visual Studio plugins, a command-line batch formatter, and a WinMerge plugin. The main page clearly states that it is a free, open-source project, with source code hosted on GitHub under the AGPL license.

Core Features and Technical Approach

PoorSQL covers common needs such as SQL formatting, syntax coloring, compression, and obfuscation. Its formatting options are fairly granular, including indentation strings, tab width, maximum line width, line breaks for statements and clauses, expanded comma lists, uppercased keywords, JOIN ON splitting, expanded CASE / IN / BETWEEN expressions, comment preservation, and more. The underlying library provides both C#/.NET and JS versions, making it well suited to SQL Server / T-SQL scenarios. The website now uses pure client-side JavaScript, so formatting is done inside the browser and SQL is not sent to an external service. Together with AppCache support for continued offline use, this is a privacy- and availability-friendly design.

Pricing and Integrations

Pricing is straightforward: the website, plugins, command-line tool, and WinMerge plugin are all free. For integrations, PoorSQL provides SSMS / Visual Studio plugins, allowing database developers to format scripts directly inside their IDEs. The command-line tool is suitable for batch formatting, while the WinMerge plugin can help with code comparison workflows. The page also notes that SQL can be passed in via the inputString querystring parameter, and formatting options can be remembered using cookies.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are that it is free and open source, runs locally, can be used offline, has a low privacy risk, and provides fairly rich formatting controls around T-SQL. The downsides are also clear: the page shows a 2019 version, and the text does not confirm whether maintenance is still active; its support scope is mainly T-SQL, with no indication of full support for dialects such as PostgreSQL or MySQL; and support mainly relies on GitHub issues, email, or Twitter rather than a commercial support model. In addition, the AGPL license may require extra evaluation for commercial embedding or redistribution.

Who It’s For and Access from China

PoorSQL is suitable for SQL Server developers, DBAs, teams that need to process sensitive SQL offline, and users who want to standardize T-SQL style across SSMS, Visual Studio, or command-line workflows. The page does not provide information about access from China, so this remains unknown. Since the tool can run offline, once users are able to load it for the first time or download the source code/plugins, ongoing use should be less affected by network conditions. Alternatives include SQLFluff, sql-formatter, DBeaver, DataGrip, and built-in formatters in various IDEs.