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SQLFluff

sqlfluff.com

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Spec score 8.0 #10 of 26 in SQL Linters and Formatters

What it is

SQLFluff is an open-source, dialect-flexible SQL linter designed for ELT applications. It reports style and syntax issues, parses SQL without database access and can automatically fix many violations with one command. Documentation describes support for more than 25 dialects, including T-SQL, PostgreSQL, BigQuery and Snowflake, alongside more than 70 rules for style, structure and best practices. Jinja templating and dbt are supported, and CI/CD integration includes GitHub Actions output for pull-request annotations. SQLFluff is free under the MIT License and installs from PyPI with pip or another Python package manager. It does not execute SQL itself, but templating macros such as dbt's run_query may execute arbitrary SQL. The Jinja templater uses Jinja2 SandboxedEnvironment to limit unsafe code execution. The dbt templater requires the relevant adapter and sqlfluff-templater-dbt package; models accessing a database during compilation require database access. Community support includes documentation, GitHub, Slack and Stack Overflow.

Spec sheet

Purpose
SQLFluff is an open source, dialect-flexible SQL linter designed with ELT applications in mind.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Integrations
SQLFluff can be used in CI/CD pipelines and supports GitHub Actions output for pull request annotations.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
Security
SQLFluff does not execute SQL itself, but templating macros such as dbt’s run_query may execute arbitrary SQL; its Jinja templater uses Jinja2 SandboxedEnvironment to limit unsafe code execution.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
Support
The project lists documentation, GitHub, Slack, and Stack Overflow as community channels.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Headquarters
Unit 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, England, IP28 7DERead 23 Sep 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Auto-fix
SQLFluff can automatically fix many linting violations with a single command.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
dbt requirements
Using the dbt templater requires installing the relevant dbt adapter and sqlfluff-templater-dbt package, and models that access a database at compile time require database access.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
Dialect support
The documentation says SQLFluff supports more than 25 SQL dialects, including T-SQL, PostgreSQL, BigQuery, and Snowflake.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
Installation
The project’s website directs users to install SQLFluff from PyPI using pip or another Python package manager.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Linting
It reports SQL style and syntax issues so teams can focus code reviews on function rather than form.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Maintainer
The website identifies SQLFluff Ltd. as incorporated in England and gives its registered address as Unit 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, England, IP28 7DE.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Parsing
It parses SQL to catch syntax issues without requiring database access.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com
Rules
The documentation lists more than 70 linting rules covering style, structure, and best practices.Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.sqlfluff.com
Templating
SQLFluff supports Jinja templating and dbt.Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com

Plans and prices

SQLFluff Free Open source SQL linter; released under the MIT License Read 5 Oct 2026 · sqlfluff.com

Every SQLFluff plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports more than 25 SQL dialects
  • Automatically fixes many linting violations
  • Parses SQL without database access
  • Jinja and dbt templating support
  • CI/CD and GitHub Actions output

Limits

  • dbt templating requires extra packages
  • Compile-time database access may be required
  • Templating macros can execute SQL

Who it suits

It suits ELT teams that want consistent SQL style and syntax checks across many dialects. Developers using Jinja, dbt, CI/CD or custom linting rules can integrate it into existing workflows.

Verdict

SQLFluff provides free linting, autofix and CI integration across varied SQL dialects. Review dbt dependencies and templating execution behavior before deployment.

Where Specifiction places it

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