FAQ

FAQ

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

No. Blinkql has no backend. Files are read by your browser and processed inside it. See Privacy & Security for the details, including how to verify it yourself.

How large a file can I open?

It depends on your machine, the file format and the query. The engine's memory is capped at 4 GB by WebAssembly, and browsers may allow less. Parquet goes much further than CSV because the engine reads only the columns it needs. Concrete guidance will come from the benchmarks; see Browser Support & Limitations for tips.

Which file formats are supported?

CSV (and other delimited text), Parquet and JSON / JSON Lines, from local files or remote URLs. Excel import is on the ideas list.

Do I need to know SQL?

SQL unlocks everything, but it isn't required for common tasks. One-click profiling, a chart builder and ready-made templates (OEE, downtime Pareto, reconciliation and more) are planned for users who don't write SQL.

Why DuckDB?

DuckDB is a fast, in-process analytical database with a rich SQL dialect and native readers for CSV, Parquet and JSON. Its WebAssembly build, DuckDB-wasm, brings that engine to the browser.

How is Blinkql different from DuckDB's own web shell or other online SQL playgrounds?

Those prove the engine works in a browser and focus on the query console. Blinkql is a full workbench built around it: a results grid engineered for millions of rows, charts, schema browsing and profiling, local persistence, operations-focused templates, and openly published performance work.

Is Blinkql affiliated with DuckDB?

No. Blinkql is an independent open-source project built on DuckDB-wasm. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by DuckDB Labs or the DuckDB Foundation.

Can I connect to my PostgreSQL / MySQL / SQL Server database?

Not directly. Browsers can't open raw database connections. Export the data you need to CSV or Parquet and open it in Blinkql.

Does it work offline?

Offline support (installable as a PWA) is planned. Once the app has loaded, local-file analysis needs no network.

Can I self-host Blinkql?

Yes. pnpm build produces static files that can be served from any host that can set the cross-origin isolation headers described in Tech Stack.

Where does the name come from?

Blink + QL (query language): queries in the blink of an eye.

How can I help?

See Contributing. Bug reports, benchmark runs on your hardware, sample datasets and templates from your industry are all valuable, and none require writing code.