The Problem: SQL Writing is Tedious
Developers and analysts work with databases daily. But:
- Hard to remember complex JOIN syntax
- Confusing subqueries, window functions, and advanced SQL
- Context switching between checking table structures and writing queries
- “How did I write that query again?” happens repeatedly
The Solution: QRY - Natural Language to SQL CLI
QRY is a CLI tool that generates SQL from natural language in your terminal.
$ qry "top 10 users with most purchases in the last 7 days"
> Connecting to mydb...
> Generated SQL:
SELECT u.name, u.email, COUNT(o.id) as order_count
FROM users u
JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
WHERE o.created_at >= NOW() - INTERVAL '7 days'
GROUP BY u.id, u.name, u.email
ORDER BY order_count DESC
LIMIT 10;
[Execute? (y/n)]
Core Features
- Natural Language → SQL: Claude/GPT-based conversion
- Schema Awareness: Auto-detect connected DB table structures
- Execution Option: Run generated queries directly
- History: Save and reuse previous queries
- Multi-DB Support: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, etc.
Market Analysis
NLP Market Status
- Total NLP market: $42B → $791B projected growth
- CAGR: 10.92%
- 72% of businesses plan to adopt NLP technologies
Competitive Landscape
| Solution | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| BigQuery NL | Cloud built-in | GCP lock-in |
| Cloud SQL AI | Cloud built-in | GCP lock-in |
| Bytebase | SaaS | Team collaboration focus |
| QRY | CLI tool | Local, lightweight, free |
Market Gap
Cloud providers offer built-in NL-to-SQL, but:
- Vendor lock-in
- GUI-based (disrupts terminal workflow)
- Additional costs
There’s demand for locally-running CLI tools.
Business Model
Revenue Strategy
- Open Source Core: Basic features free
- Pro: Advanced features (complex queries, optimization suggestions)
- API Usage: Pass through LLM API costs or self-hosting
Pricing
- Free: 50 queries/day, basic features
- Pro: $5-10/month (unlimited, advanced features)
Tech Stack
QRY CLI
├── CLI Framework (Commander.js / Clap)
├── DB Connectors (pg, mysql2, sqlite3)
├── Schema Introspection
├── LLM Integration (Claude API / OpenAI)
└── Query History (SQLite local)
MVP Scope
3-4 weeks estimated
- PostgreSQL connection and schema detection
- Claude API integration
- Basic CLI interface
- Query execution feature
Score: 84 points
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | 7/10 | SQL writing tedium is a real problem |
| Market | 7/10 | NLP market growth, dev tools demand |
| Competition | 5/10 | Cloud built-ins, many alternatives |
| Tech | 8/10 | Fast implementation via LLM APIs |
| Efficiency | 8/10 | CLI tool enables quick MVP |
| Revenue | 5/10 | Many free alternatives, monetization challenging |
| Domain Fit | 9/10 | dev_tools, cli domain aligned |
Risks
High Competition
- Many NL-to-SQL tools already exist
- Free built-in features from cloud providers
Monetization Challenges
- Developer resistance to paid conversion
- Thin margins vs LLM API costs
Recommendation
Approach with Caution
You can build an MVP quickly, and the developer experience will be good. However:
- Competition is fierce
- Need clear differentiation (e.g., DB specialization, query optimization)
- Open source community building then paid conversion is realistic
Good for learning or portfolio projects, but challenging as a revenue business.
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