ORM Studio Overview
Browser-based developer dashboard that launches automatically with axil run.
ORM Studio
Axil ORM Studio is a browser-based developer dashboard that launches automatically alongside your development server when you run axil run. No extra commands, no configuration — it just opens.
Info
Studio runs on appPort + 1. If your app is on port 3000, Studio opens at http://localhost:3001.
What is ORM Studio?
ORM Studio gives you a complete view of your running AxilJS application:
- API Explorer — Browse every HTTP route with method badges, path params, middleware tags, handler names, and a built-in Try It Out panel
- Database Browser — Inspect tables, columns, types, constraints, defaults, and browse paginated row data
- SQL Query Editor — Run SELECT queries directly against your database and see results in a data grid
- Realtime Monitor — Connect to WebSocket endpoints, send messages, and watch live SSE streams
- Export Collections — Download Postman, Insomnia, and OpenAPI 3.0 collections from your discovered routes
- QR Code Access — Scan a QR code to open your app or Studio on any device on the same network
How It Works
When you run axil run, the CLI:
- Compiles your TypeScript
- Starts your application on the configured port
- Starts Studio on
appPort + 1automatically - Opens your browser to the Studio dashboard
- Connects to your database independently (read-only)
Studio Dashboard
Studio has six panels accessible from the sidebar:
| Panel | Description |
|---|---|
| Overview | Stats, recent routes, database objects, realtime endpoints |
| Endpoints | All HTTP routes grouped by prefix with Try It Out |
| Database | Table browser, schema inspector, data grid, SQL editor |
| Realtime | WebSocket monitor and SSE stream viewer |
| Collections | Postman, Insomnia, and OpenAPI export |
| QR Access | QR codes for app URL and Studio URL |
Database Support
Studio auto-detects your database from .env and connects independently:
| Environment Variable | Database |
|---|---|
DATABASE_FILENAME=./dev.db | SQLite (read-only) |
DATABASE_URL=postgres://... | PostgreSQL |
DATABASE_URL=mysql://... | MySQL |
The connection is read-only — Studio will never write to or modify your database.
Auto-Refresh
Studio refreshes data every 30 seconds automatically. You can also click the Refresh button in the top bar at any time to get the latest routes and table data.