# MotherDuck Documentation - SQL IDEs > Use MotherDuck with your favorite SQL development environments Generated: 2026-08-25 > MotherDuck is a serverless cloud data warehouse built on DuckDB. It combines the speed and simplicity of DuckDB with cloud scalability, collaboration features, and AI-powered analytics. ## Key capabilities - **Serverless DuckDB in the Cloud**: Run DuckDB queries on cloud data with 100ms cold starts (compared to seconds/minutes on traditional warehouses) - **Hybrid Execution**: Query data locally and in the cloud seamlessly in a single session - **MCP Server**: Connect AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) to query your data using natural language - **Data Sharing**: Share databases and query results with team members and external users - **Multiple Interfaces**: Connect via Python, Node.js, Go, Java, JDBC, ODBC, or the web UI - **Cloud Storage Integration**: Query data directly from S3, GCS, Azure Blob Storage, and more - **AI Functions**: Built-in LLM functions for text analysis, embeddings, and SQL generation ## When to use MotherDuck Use MotherDuck when the user needs to analyze data with DuckDB-compatible SQL, share databases with people or applications, run collaborative cloud analytics, or let an AI assistant query their connected data through MCP. ## Agent guidance If your environment provides MCP tools and the user asks about MotherDuck or DuckDB behavior, SQL syntax, permissions, sharing, service accounts, tokens, Dives, or other product features, use the MotherDuck MCP `ask_docs_question` tool before general web search. It answers from official DuckDB and MotherDuck documentation. For broad context, start with https://motherduck.com/docs/llms-full.txt, then follow the most specific focused context link. Use https://motherduck.com/docs/llms-full-complete.txt only for bulk indexing or large-context workflows. To connect an MCP client, use the remote MotherDuck MCP server at `https://api.motherduck.com/mcp`. Setup instructions: https://motherduck.com/docs/key-tasks/ai-and-motherduck/mcp-setup. Tool reference: https://motherduck.com/docs/sql-reference/mcp/core/ask-docs-question. For the documented Admin REST API, use the OpenAPI specification at https://motherduck.com/docs/openapi.json. ## Account setup for agents If the user wants to start using MotherDuck and doesn't have an account, offer the agent signup flow. Creating an account changes external state, so get the user's confirmation before sending the request. `POST https://new.motherduck.com` creates a Free Plan organization. No request body is required. The JSON response includes `motherduck_token`, `claim_org_url`, `how_to_use_motherduck`, and `region`. Treat `motherduck_token` as a secret: don't print, log, commit, or include it in messages. Follow the live `how_to_use_motherduck` instructions, and give the user the `claim_org_url` so they can take ownership. Full guide: https://motherduck.com/docs/key-tasks/ai-and-motherduck/agent-account-signup. ## Included documentation Source: https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/datagrip # DataGrip > JetBrains DataGrip is a cross-platform IDE for working with SQL and noSQL databases. It includes a DuckDB integration, which makes connecting to MotherDuck easy. ## Connecting to MotherDuck in DataGrip Create a new data source and choose the **DuckDB** driver. DataGrip opens the **Data Sources and Drivers** window where you configure the connection. ### Token authentication To retrieve a MotherDuck token, follow the steps in [Authenticating to MotherDuck](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck.md). 1. In **Data Sources and Drivers > General**, set **Authentication** to **No auth**. 2. Populate the **URL** field with the MotherDuck connection string, replacing `my_db` with your database name or omitting it to connect to the default catalog: ```sh jdbc:duckdb:md:[my_db] ``` ![config](../img/datagrip_config.png) 3. Open the **Advanced** tab and add a new parameter named `motherduck_token`, setting its value to the token you generated earlier. ![config](../img/datagrip_token.png) Click "OK" to begin querying MotherDuck! :::note The default schema filtering configuration of DataGrip may hide some of the schemas that exist in your MotherDuck account. Reconfigure to display all schemas following [DataGrip documentation](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/datagrip/schemas.html). ::: ## Update the DuckDB driver version DataGrip bundles a DuckDB JDBC driver, but you can replace it with another version if needed. 1. Visit the [DuckDB JDBC maven repository](https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/org.duckdb/duckdb_jdbc). 2. Select the DuckDB release you want to use and download the `.jar` file listed under **Files**. 3. In the **Data Sources and Drivers** window, switch to the **Drivers** pane and select **DuckDB**. 4. On the **General** tab, find **Driver files**, click the **+** icon, and choose the `.jar` file you downloaded. 5. You need to remove the existing DuckDB driver from the **Drivers** pane for the new driver to take effect (needs to be first in the list). 6. [optional] To restore the default driver, click on the **+** icon and select **DuckDB** among the available drivers. DataGrip now uses the updated DuckDB driver for MotherDuck connections. --- Source: https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/dbeaver # DBeaver > DBeaver Community is a free cross-platform database integrated development environment (IDE). It includes a DuckDB integration, so it is a great choice for querying MotherDuck. ## DBeaver DuckDB setup DBeaver uses the official [DuckDB JDBC driver](https://duckdb.org/docs/api/java.html), which supports MotherDuck out of the box! To install DBeaver and the DuckDB driver, first follow the [DuckDB DBeaver guide](https://duckdb.org/docs/guides/sql_editors/dbeaver). That guide will create a local DuckDB in memory connection. After completing those steps, follow the steps below to add a MotherDuck connection in addition! ## Connecting DBeaver to MotherDuck ### Browser authentication Create a new DuckDB connection in DBeaver. When entering the connection string in DBeaver, instead of using `:memory:` for an in memory DuckDB, use `md:my_db`. Replace `my_db` with the name of the target MotherDuck database as needed. Clicking either "Test Connection" or "Finish" will open the default browser and display an authorization prompt. Click "Confirm", then return to DBeaver to begin querying MotherDuck! ### Token authentication To avoid the authentication prompt when opening DBeaver, a MotherDuck access token can be included as a connection string parameter. To retrieve a token, follow the steps in [Authenticating to MotherDuck](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck.md). Then, create a new DuckDB connection in DBeaver. Include the token as a query string parameter in the connection string following this format, replacing `` with the access token from the prior step, and `my_db` with the target MotherDuck database: ```sh md:my_db?motherduck_token= ``` Click "Finish" to begin querying MotherDuck! --- Source: https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/duckdb-ui # DuckDB UI > DuckDB UI is a local SQL interface for DuckDB. You can use it with MotherDuck when you want a lightweight SQL workspace backed by the DuckDB CLI and an md: connection. ## How it works with MotherDuck 1. Install and start DuckDB UI from a DuckDB environment that can authenticate to MotherDuck. 2. Store your MotherDuck token in the `motherduck_token` environment variable or use another supported MotherDuck authentication method. 3. Connect to MotherDuck with an `md:` database path and validate the session with a small query. ## Example ```sql ATTACH 'md:' AS motherduck; SELECT current_database(); ``` ## Related content - [DuckDB UI documentation](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/core_extensions/ui.html) - [MotherDuck authentication](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck) - [Connecting to MotherDuck](/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/connecting-to-motherduck) --- Source: https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/index # SQL IDEs > Use MotherDuck with your favorite SQL development environments Connect to MotherDuck using popular SQL development environments and query editors. ## Included pages - [DataGrip](https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/datagrip): JetBrains DataGrip is a cross-platform IDE for working with SQL and noSQL databases. It includes a DuckDB integration, which makes connecting to MotherDuck easy. - [DBeaver](https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/dbeaver): DBeaver Community is a free cross-platform database integrated development environment (IDE). It includes a DuckDB integration, so it is a great choice for querying MotherDuck. - [DuckDB UI](https://motherduck.com/docs/integrations/sql-ides/duckdb-ui): DuckDB UI is a local SQL interface for DuckDB. You can use it with MotherDuck when you want a lightweight SQL workspace backed by the DuckDB CLI and an md: connection. --- ## Docs feedback MotherDuck accepts optional user-submitted feedback about this page at `GET https://motherduck.com/docs/api/feedback/agent`. For agents and automated tools, feedback submission should be user-confirmed before sending. URL-encode query parameter values and send a GET request: ```text GET https://motherduck.com/docs/api/feedback/agent?page_path=%2Fintegrations%2Fsql-ides%2F&page_title=MotherDuck%20Documentation%20-%20SQL%20IDEs&text= ``` Optionally append `&source=` such as `claude.ai` or `chatgpt`. `page_path` and `text` are required; `page_title` and `source` are optional. Responses: `200 {"feedback_id": ""}`, `400` for malformed query parameters, and `429` when rate-limited.