go-jet/jet

Jet is a Go library for interacting with SQL databases. It solves a specific frustration that comes up when writing database queries in Go: most approaches require either writing raw SQL strings (which the compiler cannot check for mistakes) or using an ORM that hides SQL behind a different abstraction. Jet takes a middle path. You write queries that look like SQL, but they are written as Go code, so the compiler catches typos and type mismatches before your program ever runs. The workflow has two steps. First, you run a code generator that connects to your database and reads its structure: the tables, columns, views, and enums. It writes Go files representing those structures. Second, you use those generated types to build queries in Go code. Because the generated types match your actual database schema, your editor can autocomplete column names, and the compiler will flag any query that references a column or table that does not exist. Supported databases are PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite, along with compatible databases that use the same protocols, such as CockroachDB and MariaDB. The library handles all the standard SQL operations: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, WITH clauses, window functions, subqueries, and locking statements. When you execute a query, Jet maps the results directly into Go structs that you define, including nested structs for joined data. The README explicitly notes that Jet is not an ORM. It does not manage relationships, migrations, or model lifecycle. It is specifically a query builder and result mapper, meaning you still write logic that resembles SQL rather than calling object methods like save() or find(). Installation requires Go 1.24 or later. You add Jet as a dependency with a single go get command and install the generator separately with go install. The README includes a full walkthrough using a sample DVD rental database to demonstrate how generation, query writing, and result mapping work together. The full README is longer than what was shown.