jarvis81/openhint-sql

★ 18C#Audience · dataComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Schema-aware autocomplete
      JOIN clause suggestions
      Tab snippet expansion
      Background schema cache
    Tech stack
      C# extension
      SSMS plugin API
      SQL Server
      Disk cache
    Use cases
      Write SQL faster
      Learn table relations
      Reduce typos
      Expand boilerplate
    Audience
      Database developers
      SQL beginners
      Data analysts

mindmap root((repo)) What it does Schema-aware autocomplete JOIN clause suggestions Tab snippet expansion Background schema cache Tech stack C# extension SSMS plugin API SQL Server Disk cache Use cases Write SQL faster Learn table relations Reduce typos Expand boilerplate Audience Database developers SQL beginners Data analysts

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Speed up SQL writing by getting table and column name suggestions pulled from your actual database as you type.

USE CASE 2

Automatically get a fully written JOIN ... ON clause based on the real foreign key links in your database.

USE CASE 3

Expand short snippets like ssf into SELECT * FROM with a single Tab press to avoid repetitive typing.

USE CASE 4

Install across all your SSMS versions at once without touching SSMS core files, with a clean uninstaller included.

Tech stack

C#.NET SDKSSMS Extension APISQL ServerDisk Cache

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Close SSMS, run the provided installer as Administrator, and reopen SSMS. Supports SSMS 18, 22. No config needed, schema loads automatically when you open a query window.

Free and open-source. You can use, modify, and share it without paying anything.

In plain English

OpenHint SQL is a free, open-source extension for SQL Server Management Studio, the tool many database developers use to write and run SQL queries against Microsoft SQL Server. The extension watches what you type and pops up relevant suggestions, tables after a FROM keyword, columns after a SELECT or WHERE, stored procedures after EXEC, and so on. It reads your actual database schema so the suggestions are specific to your data, not just generic keywords. One feature that stands out is foreign-key-aware JOIN suggestions. When you type JOIN after already specifying a table in FROM, the extension looks at the real foreign key relationships in your database and offers related tables with the full ON clause already filled in. Instead of guessing how two tables connect, you get a suggestion like Orders o ON o.CustomerId = c.Id built from your schema. The extension also comes with over forty snippet shortcuts that expand on Tab. Typing ssf and pressing Tab gives you SELECT * FROM, while typing bgt expands into a full BEGIN TRANSACTION and COMMIT block. These cover common patterns for selecting, inserting, updating, joining, filtering, creating tables, managing variables, and writing control flow. Snippets place the cursor at the right spot after expansion so you can keep typing immediately. Schema data is cached to disk after the first load, which means subsequent SSMS restarts do not re-query the server. The cache has a 24-hour expiry. Loading also starts in the background the moment you open a query window, so suggestions are usually ready by the time you start typing. Installation works through a provided installer executable. You download it, close SSMS, run the installer as Administrator, and it detects all installed SSMS versions on the machine and installs into each one automatically. Supported versions cover SSMS 18 through SSMS 22. If you prefer to build from source, the README provides steps using the .NET SDK and a batch script. The extension installs into its own subfolder and includes a complete uninstaller, so it does not touch SSMS core files.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I use OpenHint SQL in SSMS. Write me a cheat sheet of the most useful Tab snippet shortcuts it provides, like ssf and bgt, explaining what each one expands to.

Prompt 2

Using OpenHint SQL's foreign-key-aware JOIN feature, explain how I can quickly write a query joining Orders to Customers without knowing the column names by heart.

Prompt 3

I want to build a SQL query in SSMS with OpenHint SQL installed. Walk me step by step through writing a SELECT with a WHERE filter and a JOIN using the autocomplete suggestions.

Prompt 4

OpenHint SQL caches schema data for 24 hours. How can I force it to refresh the cache if I've just added new tables or columns to my SQL Server database?

Prompt 5

I'm setting up OpenHint SQL for the first time. What are the exact steps to install it on SSMS 19, and how do I verify the autocomplete is working after installation?

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