Datasette

Datasette is an open source tool for exploring and publishing data, created by Simon Willison, the co-creator of the Django web framework. It transforms SQLite databases into interactive, searchable web applications with a built-in JSON API, making data accessible to journalists, researchers, government agencies, and developers without requiring complex infrastructure. Datasette reads SQLite database files directly, so users can publish any data that can fit into a SQLite database, including CSV imports, SQL database exports, or data scraped from external sources. The platform generates a browsable web interface with faceted navigation, allowing visitors to filter records by any column, perform full-text searches using SQLite FTS, and explore geographic data through SpatiaLite integration. Every page in Datasette has a corresponding JSON endpoint, enabling programmatic access and integration with other applications and services. The plugin system, built around Python hooks, extends functionality with features like authentication, custom templates, chart rendering, and API authentication. Datasette supports deployment to multiple platforms including Google Cloud Run, Heroku, Vercel, and Fly, and ships with a Docker image for self-hosted environments. The broader ecosystem includes sqlite-utils for command-line database management, Datasette Cloud for hosted instances, and Dogsheep, a suite of personal analytics tools built on Datasette. The project is funded through sponsorships and grants, and its code is released under the Apache License 2.0, with an active community contributing plugins, themes, and documentation.