Squawk review
A focused PostgreSQL linter for teams checking migration risk before merge.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Squawk is an open-source SQL linter and language server focused on PostgreSQL migrations. It analyzes schema changes for risks that can block reads or writes, break existing clients, or create unsafe migration behavior. PostgreSQL teams reviewing database changes can run it as a command-line tool, in Visual Studio Code, through Docker, in pre-commit workflows, or in a browser-based WASM playground. Its .squawk.toml configuration file supports rule inclusion and exclusion.
Its standout capability is migration safety analysis rather than general SQL formatting. Rule-based warnings target operational consequences of schema changes, and the documented rules include actionable recommendations. That focus makes Squawk a strong fit for teams that want database-aware review signals before changes are merged. GitHub pull-request comments and GitHub Actions integration extend those checks into code review and CI workflows, while language-server support brings feedback into the editor.
Squawk also fits teams that prefer an open-source tool with several execution paths across web, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its scope is deliberately narrower than a general formatter: PostgreSQL is the supported SQL dialect, custom rule authoring is not provided, and autofix is not available. Choose Squawk when migration safety and PostgreSQL review are the priority; choose a broader formatter when multi-dialect coverage or automatic rewriting matters more.
Squawk pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Flags unsafe schema changes that can affect reads, writes, and clients
- Connects migration checks to GitHub pull requests and GitHub Actions
- Runs in VS Code, Docker, pre-commit, and a browser-based playground
- Where it doesn't
- Supports PostgreSQL rather than multiple SQL dialects
- Does not provide autofix
- Does not support custom rule authoring
Squawk fact sheet, pricing and score →
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