DEPRECATION NOTICE mssql-cli is on the path to deprecation, and will be fully replaced by the new go-sqlcmd utility once it becomes generally available. We are actively in development for the new sqlcmd, and would love to hear feedback on it here!

mssql-cli is an interactive command line query tool for SQL Server. This open source tool works cross-platform and proud to be a part of the dbcli community.

mssql-cli supports a rich interactive command line experience, with features such as:

• Auto-completion: fewer keystrokes needed to complete complicated queries.
• Syntax highlighting: highlights T-SQL keywords.
• Query history: easily complete an auto-suggested query that was previously executed.
• Configuration file support: customize the mssql-cli experience for your needs.
• Multi-line queries: execute multiple queries at once using the multi-line edit mode.
• Non-interactive support: execute a query without jumping into the interactive experience.

Read the section below to quickly get started with mssql-cli. Consult the usage guide for a deeper dive into mssql-cli features.

Platform-specific installation instructions are below:

Visit the installation reference guide to view all supported releases and downloads.

Follow the Linux installation instructions to install mssql-cli using apt-get, yum, and other Linux package managers.

python -m pip install mssql-cli

Please refer to the pip installation docs for more platform-specific information.

Complete the command below to connect to your server:

mssql-cli -S <server URL> -d <database name> -U <username> -P <password>

Press Ctrl+D or type quit.

For general help content, pass in the -h parameter:

mssql-cli --help

Please refer to the usage guide for details on options and example usage. If you are having any issues using mssql-cli, please see the troubleshooting guide.

The mssql-cli tool includes a telemetry feature. Please refer to the telemetry guide for more information.

If you would like to contribute to the project, please refer to the development guide.

If you encounter any bugs or would like to leave a feature request, please file an issue in the Issues section of our GitHub repo.

This project has adopted the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct. For more information see the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact opencode@microsoft.com with any additional questions or comments.

mssql-cli is licensed under the BSD-3 license.