SQL interface in dev tools

[zuketo]

With the introduction of SQL in Elasticsearch 6.3, SQL is now an option for exploring data in Elasticsearch.

To execute a SQL statement, users can visit Dev tools -> console

e.g.

POST /_xpack/sql?format=txt
{
    "query": "SELECT business_name, inspection_score FROM 
              inspections ORDER BY inspection_score DESC LIMIT 5"
}

There are a few options to improve how users can execute a SQL statement in Kibana, such as a dedicated SQL console within dev tools (with syntax highlighting). Hopefully this issue can start discussions on improving the SQL -> Elasticsearch interface in Kibana (and help highlight this new feature in Elasticsearch).

CC @costin

[epixa]

@elastic/kibana-management

[alexfrancoeur]

One option I had thought about and mentioned on the email thread involved making KQL pluggable. Potentially giving you the option to use a SQL interface (somehow) to query against your data. We wouldn't be able to support aggregations here, but it would certainly bring SQL front and center once it matures a bit more.

@zuketo do we need an entirely separate UI for this as a Dev Tool? I wonder if we could just add a "SQL mode" for Console

[zuketo]

@alexfrancoeur the "SQL mode" is a great idea too, no requirements for a separate UI.

[costin]

Any update on this front? Is it pinned to a certain version?

[alexfrancoeur]

@costin not that I'm aware of. Do we have this on the roadmap @yaronp68 @bmcconaghy ?

[yaronp68]

this will be handled as part of the dev console owned by @bmcconaghy

[jloleysens]

The solution we arrived at is this one: #51446

If there are more specific requirements that build on this we should open a new more specific issue.

Also see response here: #20570 (comment).

Closing this issue for now.