Why WhoDB?
Desktop database clients (DBeaver, Sequel Pro, TablePlus) need to be installed on every machine and configured for every database. WhoDB flips this model: the server exposes a web interface, accessible from any browser via a simple SSH tunnel or an HTTPS subdomain.
The value proposition is precise: a single Docker image under 50 MB, no external service required, and an optional natural language query layer that translates plain-text questions into SQL or Redis commands. Ideal for development teams sharing multiple databases on the same VPS who want to avoid multiplying local clients.
What you get with WhoDB
- Connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, ElasticSearch and ClickHouse
- Interactive schema explorer — table relationships, column types, indexes
- Inline row editing without writing UPDATE statements
- SQL/Redis tab to run queries directly from the browser
- Natural language queries (optional) with Ollama or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint
- Encrypted sessions in a local /data volume — credentials never stored in the browser
- Official Docker image under 50 MB — starts in seconds
Multi-engine, one interface
WhoDB's strength is grouping very different database engines under the same exploration paradigm. You move from PostgreSQL to Redis without switching tools: the left panel lists your connections, one click opens the explorer for the selected engine.
For relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite), WhoDB shows the full schema with column types, foreign keys and indexes. For Redis, it displays keys as a navigable list with each key's type and value. For MongoDB, collections and documents appear in a JSON tree view. For ElasticSearch and ClickHouse, the interface adapts to each engine's own concepts.
Deploy WhoDB on a VPS in 3 steps
Order a VPS
A VPS with 1 vCPU and 512 MB RAM is more than enough — WhoDB uses less than 256 MB at idle. Choose Ubuntu 24.04. No domain name is required to get started.
Automatic deployment
ServOrbit installs Docker and starts WhoDB from the official clidey/whodb:latest image. A /data volume is created for your encrypted sessions. The full deployment takes under a minute.
Access the interface and connect your databases
Open an SSH tunnel from your local machine: ssh -L 8080:127.0.0.1:8080 root@<your-ip> then open http://localhost:8080. Choose the engine from the drop-down list, enter the connection details and you immediately access the schema and data.
To share WhoDB with your whole team without SSH tunnels, attach a subdomain to your VPS from your ServOrbit dashboard. WhoDB then becomes accessible over HTTPS from any browser, with sessions encrypted in the /data volume. Then activate an AI provider (Ollama on the same VPS or an OpenAI endpoint) to get natural language queries without leaving the interface.
WhoDB vs DBeaver vs Metabase
| WhoDB | DBeaver | Metabase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Web browser | Desktop (Java) | Web browser |
| Installation | Docker (1 image) | Local on each machine | Docker (multiple services) |
| Engines | 8 engines | 100+ engines | 20+ engines |
| AI queries | Optional (Ollama) | No | Optional (paid) |
| Primary use | Explore / edit | Explore / administer | Dashboards / analytics |
| RAM | < 256 MB | N/A (local) | > 1 GB |
| Licence | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 / Pro | SSPL (limited self-host) |