rqb review
A free, PostgreSQL-only Rust query builder with typed schema metadata and SQLx support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
rqb is an open-source Rust library for building and executing PostgreSQL queries through SQLx; it is a query builder, not an ORM. It is aimed at Rust developers who want static typing around schema fields and query construction, including solo developers and teams across company sizes. The library supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and targets PostgreSQL 14 or later for ordinary application queries.
Its breadth is notable for a database-specific tool. Developers can construct SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and MERGE statements, with joins, CTEs, subqueries, set queries, aggregates, and window expressions. Typed schema metadata can be generated as modules or defined by developers. Before rendering SQL, rqb validates query shape; JSON-driven search can filter, sort, limit, and offset only through metadata-authorized fields. SQLx handles execution with Postgres bind arguments. Raw SQL statement, expression, predicate, and source fragments provide an escape hatch for syntax beyond the typed DSL.
The tradeoff is a narrow database and execution fit: rqb supports PostgreSQL, with SQLx as its integration, rather than spanning multiple SQL dialects. Its project describes itself as pre-1.0, so teams choosing a dependency for a long-lived production system should weigh that status against their tolerance for change. According to its published product details, rqb is free and self-hosted. It is a reasonable fit for Rust teams that value typed PostgreSQL query construction and want substantial query coverage; teams needing an ORM, another database dialect, or a more established project should consider alternatives.
rqb pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Builds typed SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and MERGE queries
- Supports joins, CTEs, subqueries, aggregates, and window expressions
- Validates query shape and allows raw SQL fragments when needed
- Where it doesn't
- Supports PostgreSQL only
- Requires developers to define or generate schema metadata
- Pre-1.0 project status may not suit teams seeking a mature dependency
rqb fact sheet, pricing and score →
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