Google Big Query: alternatives to browser SQL editor?

Question

I'm currently working a lot with Google Big Query and I absolutely hate querying in-browser. I'm used to connect to regular DB's through editors like Toad, Microsoft SQL Studio, Teradata Studio Express or Databeaver. I'm look for a similar tool that you guys would recommend for using on Google Big Query.

Only alternative I've found so far are razorsql and jetbrains datagrip (whereas the latter requires a custom connection (https://blog.jetbrains.com/datagrip/2018/07/10/using-bigquery-from-intellij-based-ide/)

Any idea's on alternatives out there?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Currently there is no official independent editor for BigQuery, but the BigQuery Web UI that you can use as the graphical web UI to query your data. However, you can file a feature request per instructions at Report Bugs and Request Features with Issue Trackers to request the independent editor tool for BigQuery.

Answer 2

I'd recommend http://potens.io/, specifically Goliath which a great tool for data exploration. My team of ~20 non engineers uses Potens for data exploration and user friendly workflow automation (Magnus). Let me know if you have any questions.

Answer 3

There's a thread on reddit with some recommendations. I personally like the UI and there's a new UI coming (but doesn't seem to change much in functionality, only styling).

Some of the recommendations are:

1. DataGrip
2. Aquafold
3. Metabase
4. Potens
5. PopSql

Plus a few other tools that aren't RDMBs per se but have the components to "run queries" not in the UI, like Mode Analytics.

I haven't personally used any of them, but take it for a spin and see which one you like the most! (share your insights here later as I'm also curious about it)

Answer 4

I tried PopSQL (popsql.com) which looks like a nice alternative for the Web-UI and has the best Bigquery support of all the other tools. However it does not have many features and is not much better than the Web-UI. The main advantage is you can organise your stored-queries better, as you can use folders instead of the long list of stored queries in the webui.

There are some cons however: There is no autocomplete with table names and attribute names, and it does not have "save" buttons so you overwrite everything and sometimes things are not saved at all. It feels a bit beta, with some bugs and raw edges, so the payed full version is overpriced. The free version can only save 15 or so queries so it is of no use.

As for the other options I have tried: Datagrip does not have a bigquery driver. There are some hacks to write your own driver but this has limited support.