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SQL Compatibility Layer

Write familiar SQL queries that are automatically translated to SDBQL. Perfect for developers transitioning from traditional databases.

Overview

SoliDB provides a SQL compatibility layer that translates standard SQL syntax into SDBQL. This allows you to use familiar SQL statements while leveraging SoliDB's document-oriented storage.

✓ Supported Statements

  • • SELECT with columns and *
  • • INSERT INTO ... VALUES
  • • UPDATE ... SET ... WHERE
  • • DELETE FROM ... WHERE

✓ Supported Clauses

  • • WHERE with conditions
  • • ORDER BY (ASC/DESC)
  • • LIMIT / OFFSET
  • • GROUP BY / HAVING

SELECT Queries

Basic SELECT

SQL

SELECT * FROM users

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  RETURN doc

Selecting Columns

SQL

SELECT name, age FROM users

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  RETURN { name: doc.name, age: doc.age }

WHERE Clause

SQL

SELECT * FROM users
WHERE age > 18 AND status = 'active'

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  FILTER doc.age > 18 AND doc.status == "active"
  RETURN doc

ORDER BY, LIMIT, OFFSET

SQL

SELECT * FROM users
ORDER BY name DESC
LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  SORT doc.name DESC
  LIMIT 20, 10
  RETURN doc

JOIN Queries NEW

Join tables together to combine related data. JOINs are translated to nested FOR loops in SDBQL.

JOIN

Inner Join

LEFT JOIN

Left Outer Join

RIGHT JOIN

Right Outer Join

Basic JOIN

SQL

SELECT u.name, o.total
FROM users u
JOIN orders o ON o.user_id = u._key

SDBQL

FOR u IN users
  FOR o IN orders
    FILTER o.user_id == u._key
    RETURN { name: u.name, total: o.total }

JOIN with SELECT *

SQL

SELECT * FROM users
INNER JOIN orders ON orders.user_id = users._key

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  FOR j0 IN orders
    FILTER orders.user_id == doc._key
    RETURN MERGE(doc, j0)

Multiple JOINs

SQL

SELECT u.name, o.total, p.title
FROM users u
JOIN orders o ON o.user_id = u._key
JOIN products p ON p._key = o.product_id

SDBQL

FOR u IN users
  FOR o IN orders
    FILTER o.user_id == u._key
    FOR p IN products
      FILTER p._key == o.product_id
      RETURN { name: u.name, total: o.total, title: p.title }

LEFT JOIN

SQL

SELECT u.name, o.total
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON o.user_id = u._key

SDBQL

FOR u IN users
  FOR o IN orders
    FILTER o.user_id == u._key
    RETURN { name: u.name, total: o.total }

RIGHT JOIN

SQL

SELECT o.total, p.name
FROM orders o
RIGHT JOIN products p ON p._key = o.product_id

SDBQL

FOR o IN orders
  FOR p IN products
    FILTER p._key == o.product_id
    RETURN { total: o.total, name: p.name }

INSERT Statements

SQL

INSERT INTO users (name, age, email)
VALUES ('Alice', 30, '[email protected]')

SDBQL

INSERT {
  name: "Alice",
  age: 30,
  email: "[email protected]"
} INTO users
RETURN NEW

UPDATE Statements

SQL

UPDATE users
SET age = 31, status = 'verified'
WHERE name = 'Alice'

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  FILTER doc.name == "Alice"
  UPDATE doc WITH {
    age: 31,
    status: "verified"
  } IN users
  RETURN NEW

DELETE Statements

SQL

DELETE FROM users WHERE age < 18

SDBQL

FOR doc IN users
  FILTER doc.age < 18
  REMOVE doc IN users
  RETURN OLD

Supported Operators

SQL Operator SDBQL Equivalent Example
= == name = 'Alice'
!= / <> != status != 'deleted'
LIKE LIKE name LIKE 'A%'
IN (...) IN [...] status IN ('active', 'pending')
BETWEEN >= AND <= age BETWEEN 18 AND 65
IS NULL == null email IS NULL
IS NOT NULL != null email IS NOT NULL
AND / OR AND / OR age > 18 AND active = true

API Endpoints

Execute SQL Query

POST /_api/database/{db}/sql 
{
  "query": "SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 18",
  "bind_vars": {},
  "dry_run": false
}

Set dry_run: true to preview the SDBQL without executing.

Translate SQL to SDBQL

POST /_api/sql/translate 
{
  "query": "SELECT name, age FROM users ORDER BY name LIMIT 10"
}

Returns the translated SDBQL query without executing it.

Example: cURL

curl -X POST http://localhost:7777/_api/database/mydb/sql \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "query": "SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 18 ORDER BY name LIMIT 10"
  }'

Dashboard SQL Mode

The Query page in the SoliDB dashboard supports both SDBQL and SQL modes. Use the toggle switch in the header to switch between modes.

How to Use SQL Mode

  1. Navigate to Dashboard → Query
  2. Toggle the switch from SDBQL to SQL
  3. Write your SQL query in the editor
  4. Watch the live SDBQL translation appear below the editor
  5. Click Run Query to execute

Live Translation

See your SQL translated to SDBQL in real-time as you type.

Validation

Status indicator shows whether your SQL syntax is valid.