DB CLI Setup (macOS)

Schema compare and schema sync run on the app alone.
The official CLI tools of each database are needed only for backup and restore — and for the part of SQL Server data sync that goes through bcp.

Install only the tools for the databases you actually connect to.
SQLite needs no extra software at all.

See the Windows guide →

No need to edit your PATH environment variable

Even if a tool is not detected automatically after installation, you never have to edit the PATH environment variable of your OS.
Instead, point DiffyPick straight at the executable in Settings → "DB CLI paths".
Each section below includes the path to enter.

The verify button next to each path confirms on the spot that the tool runs.

Recommended versions

Older versions may work but are unsupported — if a run fails, the error message calls out the outdated CLI.

Database	Commands	Recommended
PostgreSQL	`pg_dump / psql`	17+
MySQL	`mysqldump / mysql`	8+
MariaDB	`mariadb-dump / mariadb`	10.5+
SQL Server	`sqlcmd / bcp`	18+
SQL Server	`sqlpackage`	162+

Install steps

Everything below installs through Homebrew.
If you don’t have it yet, the one-liner on the official site sets it up.

brew.sh ↗

Paths assume Apple Silicon (/opt/homebrew).
On Intel Macs, read /opt/homebrew as /usr/local.

PostgreSQL — pg_dump / psql

brew install libpq

A client-only package with no server. pg_dump is backward compatible, so the latest version can dump servers of any version.

Homebrew keeps libpq off your PATH (keg-only).
For DiffyPick, the shortest route is entering these paths in Settings:

/opt/homebrew/opt/libpq/bin/pg_dump
/opt/homebrew/opt/libpq/bin/psql

MySQL — mysqldump / mysql

brew install mysql-client

A client-only package (also keg-only).
Enter these paths in Settings:

/opt/homebrew/opt/mysql-client/bin/mysqldump
/opt/homebrew/opt/mysql-client/bin/mysql

MariaDB — mariadb-dump / mariadb

brew install mariadb

Homebrew has no client-only MariaDB package, so this installs the server bundle — you never have to start it; the CLI tools work as-is.
They land in /opt/homebrew/bin and are usually detected automatically.
If not, enter:

/opt/homebrew/bin/mariadb-dump
/opt/homebrew/bin/mariadb

SQL Server — sqlcmd / bcp

brew tap microsoft/mssql-release
HOMEBREW_ACCEPT_EULA=Y brew install msodbcsql18 mssql-tools18

Installs the ODBC driver and the version-18 command line tools from Microsoft’s official tap.
On first install, Homebrew may ask you to confirm trusting the tap.
Enter these paths in Settings:

/opt/homebrew/opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd
/opt/homebrew/opt/mssql-tools18/bin/bcp

SQL Server — sqlpackage

brew install --cask dotnet-sdk
dotnet tool install -g microsoft.sqlpackage

Installs the .NET SDK, then sqlpackage through its official distribution channel (dotnet tool).
If you already have the .NET SDK 8 or later, the second line is all you need.
Enter this path in Settings:

~/.dotnet/tools/sqlpackage

If something still fails after setup, the troubleshooting page covers the common causes. Open troubleshooting