Context
Devs working with .kilnx apps — especially those using custom fields (custom fields from "...") — need a utility to browse DB records, inspect the schema, and edit manifest files without dropping to the CLI or a raw SQLite viewer.
This is a dev utility, not a runtime app feature. Think pgAdmin: optional, not bundled into every app, for developers only.
Scope
- Browse tables and rows from the app's SQLite/Postgres database
- View and edit
.kilnx files and *_fields.kilnx manifests directly (file stays source of truth)
- Apply schema migrations after manifest edits (
kilnx migrate)
- Version control awareness: show git diff of edited files, let dev commit from UI
- Optional: run
kilnx check inline, show diagnostics
What it is NOT
- Not an end-user UI (see companion issue for that)
- Not bundled into every compiled app binary
- Not a replacement for
kilnx run/kilnx check — complements them
Possible shapes
kilnx admin CLI command that starts a local admin server (like pgAdmin desktop mode)
- Separate
kilnx-admin binary/repo
- Part of
kiln-studio (already a dev-facing tool)
Relationship to custom fields
Custom fields (#58) are the primary motivator: editing *_fields.kilnx manifests, previewing field changes, viewing custom JSON column data parsed per-field.
Open questions
- Standalone binary vs sub-command of
kilnx?
- Auth: localhost-only vs optional password?
- Should it support live reload of the watched
.kilnx app?
Context
Devs working with
.kilnxapps — especially those using custom fields (custom fields from "...") — need a utility to browse DB records, inspect the schema, and edit manifest files without dropping to the CLI or a raw SQLite viewer.This is a dev utility, not a runtime app feature. Think pgAdmin: optional, not bundled into every app, for developers only.
Scope
.kilnxfiles and*_fields.kilnxmanifests directly (file stays source of truth)kilnx migrate)kilnx checkinline, show diagnosticsWhat it is NOT
kilnx run/kilnx check— complements themPossible shapes
kilnx adminCLI command that starts a local admin server (likepgAdmindesktop mode)kilnx-adminbinary/repokiln-studio(already a dev-facing tool)Relationship to custom fields
Custom fields (#58) are the primary motivator: editing
*_fields.kilnxmanifests, previewing field changes, viewingcustomJSON column data parsed per-field.Open questions
kilnx?.kilnxapp?