GoNavi - A Modern Lightweight Database Client

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GoNavi is a modern, high-performance, cross-platform database client built with Wails (Go) and React. It delivers native-like responsiveness with low resource usage.

Compared with many Electron-based clients, GoNavi is typically smaller in binary size (around 10MB class), starts faster, and uses less memory.

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Project Overview

GoNavi is designed for developers and DBAs who need a unified desktop experience across multiple databases.

• Native-performance architecture: Wails (Go + WebView) with lightweight runtime overhead.
• Large dataset usability: virtualized rendering and optimized DataGrid workflows for high-volume tables.
• Unified connectivity: URI build/parse, SSH tunnel, proxy support, and on-demand driver activation.
• Production-oriented workflow: SQL editor, object management, batch export/backup, sync tools, execution logs, and update checks.

Supported Data Sources

Built-in: available out of the box.
Optional driver agent: install/enable via Driver Manager first.

Category	Data Source	Driver Mode	Typical Capabilities
Relational	MySQL	Built-in	Schema browsing, SQL query, data editing, export/backup
Domestic DB	GoldenDB	Built-in	MySQL-compatible query workflow and distributed transaction scenarios
Relational	PostgreSQL	Built-in	Schema browsing, SQL query, data editing, object management
Relational	Oracle	Built-in	Query execution, object browsing, data editing
Cache	Redis	Built-in	Key browsing, command execution, encoding/view switch
Vector Database	Chroma	Built-in	Collection browsing, vector retrieval, metadata filtering
Vector Database	Qdrant	Built-in	Collection browsing, vector search, payload filtering
Message Queue	RocketMQ	Built-in	Topic browsing, consumer-group inspection, message-oriented workflow
Message Queue	MQTT	Built-in	Broker and topic-filter workflow with QoS-aware connection settings
Message Queue	Kafka	Built-in	Topic browsing, broker metadata, consumer-group workflow
Message Queue	RabbitMQ	Built-in	Queue/exchange browsing, virtual host inspection, management API workflow
Relational	MariaDB	Optional driver agent	Querying, object management, data editing
Relational	Doris	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, SQL execution
Columnar Analytics	StarRocks	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, SQL execution
Search	Sphinx	Optional driver agent	SphinxQL querying and object browsing
Relational	SQL Server	Optional driver agent	Schema browsing, SQL query, object management
File-based	SQLite	Optional driver agent	Local DB browsing, editing, export
File-based	DuckDB	Optional driver agent	Large-table query, pagination, file-DB workflow
Domestic DB	OceanBase	Optional driver agent	MySQL / Oracle tenant access, object browsing, query workflow
Domestic DB	Dameng	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, data editing
Domestic DB	Kingbase	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, data editing
Domestic DB	HighGo	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, data editing
Domestic DB	Vastbase	Optional driver agent	Querying, object browsing, data editing
Domestic DB	OpenGauss	Optional driver agent	PostgreSQL-like schema browsing, SQL query, object management
Domestic DB	GaussDB	Optional driver agent	PostgreSQL-like schema browsing, SQL query, object management
Multi-model	InterSystems IRIS	Optional driver agent	Namespace browsing, SQL query, object management
Document	MongoDB	Optional driver agent	Document query, collection browsing, connection management
Time-series	TDengine	Optional driver agent	Time-series schema browsing and querying
Time-series	Apache IoTDB	Optional driver agent	Storage group / device / timeseries browsing and querying
Columnar Analytics	ClickHouse	Optional driver agent	Analytical query, object browsing, SQL execution
Federated Query	Trino	Optional driver agent	Cross-source SQL via multiple catalogs, catalog.schema browsing, SQL execution
Search	Elasticsearch	Optional driver agent	Index browsing, mapping inspection, JSON DSL / query_string search
Extensibility	Custom Driver/DSN	Custom	Extend to more data sources via Driver + DSN

📸 Screenshots

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Key Features

AI Assistant (New)

• Multi-provider Support: OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, and custom API support.
• Context-Aware Chat: Attach table schemas to the AI context for accurate SQL generation and assistance.
• Slash Commands: Quick commands for generating SQL, explaining queries, optimizing performance, and reviewing schema designs.
• Built-in MCP Workflow: Manage MCP servers in AI Settings, install GoNavi MCP to Claude Code / Codex, or expose Streamable HTTP for remote Agents.
• Remote-Agent Boundary: Keep saved connections and database passwords on the host running GoNavi while cloud Agents consume schema tools over MCP.
• Safety Guardrails: Remote schema-only mode omits execute_sql; when SQL execution is enabled, non-read-only statements still require explicit allowMutating=true.

Performance

• Smooth interaction under load: optimized table interaction (including column resize workflow on large datasets).
• Virtualized rendering: keeps large result sets responsive.

Data Management (DataGrid)

• In-place cell editing.
• Batch insert/update/delete with transaction-oriented submit/rollback.
• Large-field popup editor.
• Context actions (set NULL, copy/export, etc.).
• Smart read/write mode switching based on query context.
• Export formats: CSV, Excel (XLSX), JSON, Markdown.

SQL Editor

• Monaco Editor core.
• Context-aware completion for databases/tables/columns.
• Multi-tab query workflow.

Batch Export / Backup

• Database-level and table-level batch export/backup.
• Scope-aware operation flow to reduce mistakes.

Connectivity

• URI generation/parsing.
• SSH tunnel support.
• Proxy support.
• Config import/export (JSON).
• Optional driver management and activation.

Redis Tools

• Multi-view value rendering (auto/raw text/UTF-8/hex).
• Built-in command execution panel.

Observability and Update

• SQL execution logs with timing information.
• Startup/scheduled/manual update checks.

UI/UX

• Ant Design 5 based interface.
• Light/Dark themes.
• Flexible sidebar and layout behavior.

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Tech Stack

• Backend: Go 1.24 + Wails v2
• Frontend: React 18 + TypeScript + Vite
• UI: Ant Design 5
• State Management: Zustand
• Editor: Monaco Editor

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Installation and Run

Prerequisites

• Go 1.21+
• Node.js 18+
• Wails CLI: go install github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/cmd/wails@v2.11.0

Development Mode

# Clone
git clone https://github.com/Syngnat/GoNavi.git
cd GoNavi

# Start development with hot reload
wails dev

# Faster local startup when exported Go method signatures are unchanged
node tools/wails-fast-dev.mjs

# Refresh Wails JS bindings after changing exported Go method signatures
node tools/wails-fast-dev.mjs --refresh-bindings

# Windows PowerShell low-memory visual mode: disables transparent WebView/Acrylic backdrop
$env:GONAVI_LOW_MEMORY_MODE="1"; node tools/wails-fast-dev.mjs

Build

# Build for current platform
wails build

# Clean build (recommended before release)
wails build -clean

Artifacts are generated in build/bin.

Docker / Podman (MCP Server Only)

The desktop GUI is not packaged as a container service. Current container support targets gonavi-mcp-server only.

Browser Access Mode (Experimental)

The main GoNavi application now also exposes a web-server mode that reuses the same Go backend and React frontend for browser access:

go build .
.\GoNavi-Wails.exe web-server --addr 127.0.0.1:34116

The first browser visit is redirected to /setup to create the web admin password. Google Authenticator is optional but supported out of the box, together with web_auth.json, session cookies, recovery codes, and login rate limiting.

Current scope already includes:

• Browser-side Wails bridge (window.go.* / window.runtime.* -> HTTP / SSE)
• First-run setup page, login page, and logout endpoint
• Session idle timeout / absolute timeout / remember-login window
• Google Authenticator TOTP plus recovery codes

Still in progress:

• Browser upload/download workbenches for external SQL and connection-package flows
• More web capability gating for desktop-only features
• Reverse-proxy / HTTPS / zero-trust deployment guidance

cp docker.mcp-server.env.example docker.mcp-server.env
docker compose --env-file docker.mcp-server.env -f docker-compose.mcp-server.yml up -d

Mount the GoNavi active data root into the container. The mounted directory should contain connections.json, daily_secrets.json, and optional drivers/ assets when optional driver agents are required.

The default Compose file pulls the published GHCR image. For local source builds, add the override file:

docker compose --env-file docker.mcp-server.env \
  -f docker-compose.mcp-server.yml \
  -f docker-compose.mcp-server.local.yml \
  up -d --build

For Podman, use the same published OCI image with podman run, or the native Quadlet example under deploy/podman/gonavi-mcp-server. That path is intended for Linux servers / NAS hosts where rootless systemd services are preferred.

Deployment matrix:

• Docker Desktop / Linux server / NAS: docker-compose.mcp-server.yml
• Podman / Quadlet: deploy/podman/gonavi-mcp-server
• Kubernetes: deploy/k8s/gonavi-mcp-server (kustomization.yaml + overlays)
• Helm chart: deploy/helm/gonavi-mcp-server
• Build-only Linux environment: Dockerfile.build-env

See cmd/gonavi-mcp-server/README.md for deployment details and security boundaries.

Docker / Podman (Build Environment Only)

If you only need a reproducible Linux build environment for Wails, use Dockerfile.build-env:

docker build -f Dockerfile.build-env -t gonavi-build-env:local .
docker run --rm -it -v "$PWD:/workspace" -w /workspace gonavi-build-env:local bash

The same Dockerfile also works with Podman, for example podman build -f Dockerfile.build-env -t localhost/gonavi-build-env:local . and podman run --rm -it -v "$PWD:/workspace" -w /workspace localhost/gonavi-build-env:local bash.

The default image installs the WebKitGTK 4.0 build toolchain for broader Linux/NAS compatibility. The image bases are multi-arch, so amd64 and arm64 follow the target container platform.

Published images are pushed to GHCR:

• ghcr.io/syngnat/gonavi-mcp-server:latest
• ghcr.io/syngnat/gonavi-build-env:latest

This image is for building Linux artifacts only. It does not turn the Wails desktop GUI into a browser-accessible web application.

Cross-Platform Release (GitHub Actions)

The repository includes a release workflow. Push a v* tag to trigger automated build and release. Release notes are generated automatically from merged pull requests and categorized by .github/release.yaml.

Target artifacts include:

• macOS (AMD64 / ARM64)
• Windows (AMD64)
• Linux (AMD64, WebKitGTK 4.0 and 4.1 variants)

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Troubleshooting

macOS: "App is damaged and can’t be opened"

Without Apple notarization, Gatekeeper may block startup.

1. Move GoNavi.app to Applications.
2. Open Terminal.
3. Run:

sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/GoNavi.app

Or right-click the app in Finder and choose Open with Control key flow.

Linux: missing libwebkit2gtk / libjavascriptcoregtk

GoNavi depends on WebKitGTK runtime libraries.

# Debian 13 / Ubuntu 24.04+
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y libgtk-3-0 libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 libjavascriptcoregtk-4.1-0

# Ubuntu 22.04 / Debian 12
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y libgtk-3-0 libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37 libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18

If you use Linux artifacts with the -WebKit41 suffix, prefer Debian 13 / Ubuntu 24.04+.

Linux: Chinese text appears as square boxes

Minimal Ubuntu 24.04 LTS desktop/server environments may not include Chinese CJK fonts. Install Noto / WenQuanYi fonts and restart GoNavi:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y fonts-noto-cjk fonts-wqy-microhei
fc-cache -fv

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Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome.

For the full workflow, branch model, and maintainer sync rules, see:

• CONTRIBUTING.md

External contributors should branch from dev and open pull requests against dev.

Star History

Links

• linux.do
• AIBook

License

Licensed under Apache-2.0.