sqlc

What hackers pick instead

• Ecto (Elixir)Elixir database library that follows SQL closely, makes queries explicit and avoids hidden magic. Main caveat: defining large schemas is repetitive compared with Django.17recommend
• sqlxRust crate that checks SQL against your database at compile time, catching type errors early. Common caveat: dynamic queries are hard.13recommend
• jOOQPraised for type-safe SQL in Java without ORM magic; some critics call it weaker than alternatives.13recommend
• KyselyPeople recommend Kysely for type-safe query building with rich TypeScript support while keeping close to raw SQL. One critic says complicated queries fall apart.12recommend
• JdbiPeople recommend Jdbi as a Java database library that handles connection plumbing while leaving the SQL visible, with no ORM layer in between.6recommend

Every quote

The 22 most detailed of 27 comments. Each links to the original.

1. Writing queries in sql and then generating for the target language also provides a flexibility that has reduced rewrite cost.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Are you expected to run five Python type-checkers now?”

2. You specify just what you want from the database, without needing to couple so much API with database tables.

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Show HN: Oxyde – Pydantic-native async ORM with a Rust core”

3. I love sqlc, but I think it's more fair to say it's an SQL code generator for Postgres and Go.

   Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Show HN: Bun-sqlgen – Type-safe raw SQL for Bun, no ORM”

4. you avoid the many awkward mechanisms ORMs need to integrate SQLisms into the native language

   Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “Blending SQL and Python with Sqlorm”

5. It made most of the boilerplate of using plain SQL go away, I get type safe responses

   Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Postgres Is Your Friend. ORM Is Not”

6. so I never have any issues with SQL being wrong or out of sync with the data model

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “I run multiple $10K MRR companies on a $20/month tech stack”

7. better tools like sqlc etc that have orm ergonomics without the performance hit

   Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Reddit Migrates Comment Back End from Python to Go”

8. cover most of the perceived advantages of ORMs, without the downsides

   Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Postgres Is Your Friend. ORM Is Not”

9. it produces models and repositories based on plain sql queries

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Learn SQL Once, Use It for 30 Years”

10. type safety + auto repo layer from your query.sql

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “How's Linear so fast? A technical breakdown”

11. sqlc for type-safe code generated from SQL

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “How I use HTMX with Go”

12. it is a little cumbersome to add them to a different file and find a name for them

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Show HN: Pg-typesafe – Strongly typed queries for PostgreSQL and TypeScript”

13. I don’t recall sqlc giving any solution to help with this.

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “How I use HTMX with Go”

14. support for other languages is not as great

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Show HN: Bun-sqlgen – Type-safe raw SQL for Bun, no ORM”

15. they are both there for you for your highs (select * from table order by created at) and your lows

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “What ORMs have taught me: just learn SQL (2014)”

16. which can generate a lot of your "dynamic DB magic" without actually being a real dependency

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Migrating from Go to Rust”

17. Sqlc is a hope for me. It is almost like treating your DB as an RPC.

    Recommends · Nov 2025

18. sqlc is pretty darn great but it's no comparison to Django

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Just Fucking Use Go”

19. Sqlc works great with Postgres or Sqlite

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Show HN: Building a web server in assembly to give my life (a lack of) meaning”

20. a more mature solution in this space

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Show HN: Bun-sqlgen – Type-safe raw SQL for Bun, no ORM”

21. does this for me. Its been nice!

    Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “Rethinking Database Programming”

22. SQLC does not address most of the perceived advantages to ORMs

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Postgres Is Your Friend. ORM Is Not”