# sqlite-utils Python CLI for SQLite Database Manipulation

> sqlite-utils is a Python CLI utility and library by Simon Willison for manipulating SQLite databases. It lets you pipe JSON, CSV, or TSV data directly into SQLite, run in-memory SQL queries against files, configure full-text search, and perform schema transformations — all from the command line.

- Skill: `agentskillexchange/sqlite-utils-python-cli-for-sqlite-database-manipulation` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add agentskillexchange/sqlite-utils-python-cli-for-sqlite-database-manipulation`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/agentskillexchange/sqlite-utils-python-cli-for-sqlite-database-manipulation/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Data & Analytics
- Author: agentskillexchange (https://skillmd.com/u/agentskillexchange)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/agentskillexchange/sqlite-utils-python-cli-for-sqlite-database-manipulation

---


# sqlite-utils Python CLI for SQLite Database Manipulation

sqlite-utils is a Python CLI utility and library by Simon Willison for manipulating SQLite databases. It lets you pipe JSON, CSV, or TSV data directly into SQLite, run in-memory SQL queries against files, configure full-text search, and perform schema transformations — all from the command line.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- pip install sqlite-utils
- brew install sqlite-utils

Requirements and caveats from upstream:
- [![Python 3.x](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/sqlite-utils.svg?logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://pypi.org/project/sqlite-utils/)
- Python CLI utility and library for manipulating SQLite databases.
- You can also import sqlite_utils and use it as a Python library like this:

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- [Run in-memory SQL queries](https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/stable/cli.html#querying-data-directly-using-an-in-memory-database), including joins, directly against data in CSV, TSV or JSON files and view the results
- [Configure SQLite full-text search](https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/stable/cli.html#configuring-full-text-search) against your database tables and run search queries against them, ordered by relevance
- Run [transformations against your tables](https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/stable/cli.html#transforming-tables) to make schema changes that SQLite ALTER TABLE does not directly support, such as changing the type o...

- Source: https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/HEAD/README.md

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/sqlite-utils-python-cli-sqlite-manipulation/)

