DB CLI Setup (Windows)

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Older versions may work but are unsupported — if a run fails, the error message calls out the outdated CLI.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

Commands below use winget, the package manager built into Windows 10 and later.
Run them in PowerShell or Command Prompt.
Where an install directory contains a version number, adjust the Settings path to the version you installed.

PostgreSQL — pg_dump / psql

winget install --id PostgreSQL.PostgreSQL.17 -e --override "--mode unattended --unattendedmodeui none --disable-components server,pgAdmin,stackbuilder"

Runs the official (EDB) installer with only the command line tools selected — no server, no background service.
If you want the full server too, drop everything from --override onward.
Enter these paths in Settings:

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\pg_dump.exe
C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\psql.exe

MySQL — mysqldump / mysql

The winget package only fetches an installer stub, so downloading the official MSI is the fastest route.
Installing MySQL Community Server also puts the client CLI tools in its bin folder.
If you only need the CLI, you can skip the post-install configuration tool (MySQL Configurator).

MySQL Community Server downloads ↗

Enter these paths in Settings (adjust the version):

C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 9.0\bin\mysqldump.exe
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 9.0\bin\mysql.exe

MariaDB — mariadb-dump / mariadb

winget install --id MariaDB.Server -e

The MSI bundles the server, and the client CLI tools are included by default.
Enter these paths in Settings (adjust the version):

C:\Program Files\MariaDB 12.2\bin\mariadb-dump.exe
C:\Program Files\MariaDB 12.2\bin\mariadb.exe

SQL Server — sqlcmd / bcp

winget install --id Microsoft.msodbcsql.18 -e

After installing the prerequisite ODBC Driver 18 above, download and run the x64 MSI of "Microsoft Command Line Utilities for SQL Server" from Microsoft’s official page.
It installs both sqlcmd and bcp.

Download the bcp utility (Microsoft Learn) ↗

The older "Command Line Utilities 15" and the Go-based sqlcmd from winget (version 1.x, without bcp) don’t work here — after installing, bcp -v should report version 18 or later.
Enter these paths in Settings:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\Client SDK\ODBC\180\Tools\Binn\sqlcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\Client SDK\ODBC\180\Tools\Binn\bcp.exe

SQL Server — sqlpackage

winget install --id Microsoft.DotNet.SDK.8 -e
dotnet tool install -g microsoft.sqlpackage

Installs the .NET SDK, then sqlpackage via dotnet tool.
Open a new terminal before running the second line so the SDK is on PATH.
Enter this path in Settings:

%USERPROFILE%\.dotnet\tools\sqlpackage.exe

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