CLI : Size column width based on data

[rmoff]

It would help with usability if the CLI formatted the width of columns automatically based on the data in them.

Here's MySQL:

mysql> SELECT ID, FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, EMAIL, CLUB_STATUS FROM CUSTOMERS limit 5;
+----+-------------+------------+------------------------+-------------+
| ID | FIRST_NAME  | LAST_NAME  | EMAIL                  | CLUB_STATUS |
+----+-------------+------------+------------------------+-------------+
|  1 | Rica        | Blaisdell  | rblaisdell0@rambler.ru | bronze      |
|  2 | Ruthie      | Brockherst | rbrockherst1@ow.ly     | platinum    |
|  3 | Mariejeanne | Cocci      | mcocci2@techcrunch.com | bronze      |
|  4 | Hashim      | Rumke      | hrumke3@sohu.com       | platinum    |
|  5 | Hansiain    | Coda       | hcoda4@senate.gov      | platinum    |
+----+-------------+------------+------------------------+-------------+
5 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql>

Here's ksqlDB with the same data:

ksql> SELECT ID, FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, EMAIL, CLUB_STATUS FROM CUSTOMERS EMIT CHANGES LIMIT 5;
>
+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
|ID                        |FIRST_NAME                |LAST_NAME                 |EMAIL                     |CLUB_STATUS               |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
|1                         |Rica                      |Blaisdell                 |rblaisdell0@rambler.ru    |bronze                    |
|2                         |Ruthie                    |Brockherst                |rbrockherst1@ow.ly        |platinum                  |
|3                         |Mariejeanne               |Cocci                     |mcocci2@techcrunch.com    |bronze                    |
|4                         |Hashim                    |Rumke                     |hrumke3@sohu.com          |platinum                  |
|5                         |Hansiain                  |Coda                      |hcoda4@senate.gov         |platinum                  |
Limit Reached
Query terminated
ksql>

[agavra]

@rmoff - this is not really possible because we don't have the data upfront. With MySQL, they know the max width of the column before they print it, ksqlDB doesn't have that knowledge. I'm open to suggestions though

[rmoff]

How about just buffer the first before rendering, and use that for sizing?
Having to then potentially wrap future columns would be better IMO than the current uniform-width approach. And make it a config so people can choose :)

[hoey94]

I have encountered a similar issue as well. Due to the large number of columns being queried, the data format displayed becomes messy.