Plugin ecosystem

Extend everything

SQL Explorer is built around a small set of plugin types. Providers add databases, tools run operations, MCP servers open data to AI, and extensions stand up whole subsystems. Each loads at runtime, in isolation.

First-party

Official plugins, built and maintained by us

Everything below is first-party — shipped and supported by the SQL Explorer team, not third parties. Third-party plugins install exactly the same way, and anyone can build and distribute their own with the SDK.

Build your own

A plugin is a folder and a manifest

Drop a folder into plugins/ next to the app with a plugin.json manifest and an entry assembly built against SqlExplorer.Sdk. The host discovers it on start.

Reference the SDK and implement the interface for your type.
Declare the type discriminator in the manifest.
Ship the folder — it loads in its own isolated context.

Read the plugin SDK guide →

plugins/my-engine/plugin.json

{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "id": "my-engine",
  "type": "provider",   // provider | tool | mcp | extension
  "name": "My Engine",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "hostApiVersion": 26,
  "entryAssembly": "MyEngine.Provider.dll"
}

Get the app, then make it yours

Install SQL Explorer and start with the bundled providers — add more whenever you need.

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