Tabularis vs Spark SQL
A side-by-side look at the Tabularis and Spark SQL MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
T
TabularisDatabasesOpen-source desktop SQL workspace with 3 built-in database drivers and 16 shipped plugins, including SQL Server, DuckDB, ClickHouse and Redis. Built-in MCP server for Claude, Cursor and Devin, SQL notebooks and visual EXPLAIN.59GoodAuth: no auth requiredVerdict: choose Tabularis for databases work; choose Spark SQL for databases as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
TChoose Tabularis when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
list_connections, list_databases, list_tables.
Choose Spark SQL when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SPARK_HOST, SPARK_PORT, SPARK_DATABASE, SPARK_AUTH, SPARK_USERNAME, SPARK_PASSWORD, SPARK_KERBEROS_SERVICE_NAME. - You want tools like
list_databases, list_tables, describe_table.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | T Tabularis | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Databases | Databases |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 47/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Not confirmed yet | Confirmed |
| Transport | — | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SPARK_HOSTSPARK_PORTSPARK_DATABASESPARK_AUTHSPARK_USERNAMESPARK_PASSWORDSPARK_KERBEROS_SERVICE_NAME |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 5,256 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | 4 |
| Full listing | View Tabularis | View Spark SQL |
Tools & capabilities
Tabularis tools 5
list_connectionsList all saved database connectionslist_databasesList all databases available for a connectionlist_tablesList tables in a connection (with optional schema filter)describe_tableGet full schema: columns, indexes, foreign keysrun_queryExecute any SQL query and return results
Spark SQL tools 4
list_databasesList all available databaseslist_tablesList tables in a databasedescribe_tableGet table schema (columns, types)execute_queryRun read-only SQL queries with formatted results
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Tabularis
No confirmed install command for Tabularis yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Spark SQL
{
"mcpServers": {
"spark-sql": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"spark-sql-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"SPARK_HOST": "YOUR_SPARK_HOST_HERE",
"SPARK_PORT": "YOUR_SPARK_PORT_HERE",
"SPARK_DATABASE": "YOUR_SPARK_DATABASE_HERE",
"SPARK_AUTH": "YOUR_SPARK_AUTH_HERE",
"SPARK_USERNAME": "YOUR_SPARK_USERNAME_HERE",
"SPARK_PASSWORD": "YOUR_SPARK_PASSWORD_HERE",
"SPARK_KERBEROS_SERVICE_NAME": "YOUR_SPARK_KERBEROS_SERVICE_NAME_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Tabularis is categorized under Databases and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Spark SQL belongs to Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Tabularis for databases work and Spark SQL for databases.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client. Tabularis has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Tabularis is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Spark SQL has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add tabularis and spark-sql as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Tabularis has a quality signal of 59/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 5,256 GitHub stars. Spark SQL has 47/100 (Fair) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.