head to head · open source
DBeaver vs sh
DBeaver has 51,797 GitHub stars, 4,372 forks, 3,334 open issues and last shipped yesterday. sh has 3,151 stars, 1,013 forks, 80 open issues and last shipped yesterday. DBeaver leads on adoption by 1,544% (51,797 vs 3,151 stars). DBeaver is written in Java under Apache-2.0; sh is written in Shell under Apache-2.0. DBeaver has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, sh 32%. sh was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| DBeaver | sh | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 52K | ★ 3.2K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Java | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.4K | ⑂ 1.0K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick DBeaver if
- You weight community size — 52K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick sh if
- You want the sh feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Shell
- You evaluated both and sh fits your workflow better
About DBeaver
DBeaver is a free, multi platform database management tool built in Java, designed for developers, SQL programmers, database administrators, and analysts. It operates across Windows, macOS, and Linux and integrates with the Eclipse based plugin ecosystem via OSGi and Eclipse RCP frameworks.
read the full DBeaver overview →
About sh
kejilion.sh is an all in one Linux management script — a root level Shell toolbox for VPS owners, self hosters and administrators that gathers system monitoring, Docker management, LDNMP site deployment, backups and site protection into one interactive tool.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DBeaver or sh more popular?
DBeaver has 51,797 GitHub stars and sh has 3,151. DBeaver has the larger community by that measure.
Are DBeaver and sh free?
Both are open source. DBeaver is licensed under Apache-2.0 and sh under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between DBeaver and sh?
DBeaver is written in Java and sh in Shell. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, DBeaver or sh?
Choose DBeaver if you want the larger community (51,797 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose sh if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.