zed-sql-tools

SQL extension for Zed with smart formatting and linting — no external CLI tools required.

Features

Formatter

Formats SQL on save. Short queries stay on one line; complex queries break into readable multi-line form.

Short query — stays compact:

-- before
select * from users where id = 1

-- after
SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = 1

Multi-column — each column indented:

-- before
select id, name, email from users where active = 1

-- after
SELECT
    id,
    name,
    email
FROM users
WHERE active = 1

Complex WHERE — conditions indented:

-- before
select * from users where id = 1 and status = 'active' or role = 'admin'

-- after
SELECT * FROM users
WHERE
    id = 1
    AND status = 'active'
    OR role = 'admin'

UPDATE — always multi-line:

-- before
update users set name = 'x' where id = 1

-- after
UPDATE users
SET name = 'x'
WHERE id = 1

Formatting rules:

• Queries ≤ 80 chars with no JOIN, no subquery, simple WHERE → single line
• Multiple columns or function calls (COUNT(*)) → indented under SELECT
• AND/OR conditions → indented under WHERE
• UPDATE always multi-line
• JOIN and subqueries always multi-line
• Comments and string literals preserved as-is
• Idempotent — formatting twice gives the same result

Syntax Checking

Powered by the tree-sitter-sql grammar. Syntax errors are highlighted immediately as you type — no need to run the query first.

-- typo in keyword → underlined with error
SELECT * FORM users WHERE id = 1
--       ^^^^ Syntax error near 'FORM users WHERE id = 1'

-- incomplete statement → caught instantly
SELECT * FROM users WHERE
--                        ^ Syntax error

Linter

Inline diagnostics for common SQL mistakes — catches dangerous patterns before they hit production.

Destructive queries without WHERE:

UPDATE users SET name = 'x'   -- ⚠ UPDATE without WHERE clause — this will update all rows
DELETE FROM users              -- ⚠ DELETE without WHERE clause — this will delete all rows

NULL comparison:

WHERE name = NULL    -- ✗ Use IS NULL / IS NOT NULL instead of = NULL
WHERE name IS NULL   -- ✓

SELECT pitfalls:

SELECT * FROM users            -- ⚠ Avoid SELECT *, specify columns explicitly
SELECT FROM users              -- ✗ Missing column list in SELECT

Empty IN list:

WHERE id IN ()     -- ✗ IN () with empty list — condition is always false

Pagination issues:

SELECT * FROM users LIMIT 10                    -- ⚠ LIMIT without ORDER BY may produce inconsistent results
SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY id LIMIT 10        -- ✓

Always-true conditions (debug code left in):

WHERE 1 = 1    -- ⚠ Condition '1 = 1' is always true — likely debug code

Subquery without alias:

SELECT * FROM (SELECT id FROM users)        -- ⚠ Subquery in FROM must have an alias (AS name)
SELECT * FROM (SELECT id FROM users) AS u   -- ✓

Installation

The extension is available in the Zed extension marketplace. Search for SQL Tools in the Extensions panel (cmd+shift+x on macOS).

Zed will automatically download the sql-lsp language server binary on first use.

To enable format-on-save, add to your Zed settings:

{
  "languages": {
    "SQL": {
      "formatter": "language_server",
      "format_on_save": "on"
    }
  }
}

Grammar

Uses DerekStride/tree-sitter-sql for parsing and syntax highlighting.