> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.turso.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Local Development

> Build locally using SQLite, libSQL Server or Turso.

Developers can build locally with Turso using either of the following methods:

* [SQLite](#sqlite) — local SQLite database file
* [Turso CLI](#turso-cli) — managed libSQL server
* [Turso Database](#turso-database) — remote Turso database

## Using a dump locally

You can always dump your production database and use it locally for development:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a dump using the Turso CLI">
    ```bash theme={null}
    turso db shell your-database .dump > dump.sql
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create SQLite file from dump">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cat dump.sql | sqlite3 local.db
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to SQLite file">
    You can use any of the methods below with the `local.db` file, or you can use a new file name if you prefer to create a database from scratch.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## SQLite

There are a few things to keep in mind when using SQLite for local development:

* Doesn't have all the features of libSQL
* Works with non-serverless based Turso SDKs

When working with an [SDK](/sdk), you can pass it a `file:` URL to connect to a SQLite database file instead of a remote Turso database:

<CodeGroup>
  ```ts JavaScript theme={null}
  import { createClient } from "@libsql/client";

  const client = createClient({
    url: "file:local.db",
  });
  ```

  ```rust Rust theme={null}
  let client = libsql_client::Client::from_config(libsql_client::Config {
      url: url::Url::parse("file:local.db").unwrap(),
      auth_token: None,
  })
  .await
  .unwrap();
  ```

  ```go Go theme={null}
  package main

  import (
    "database/sql"
    "fmt"
    "os"

    _ "github.com/tursodatabase/go-libsql"
  )

  func main() {
    dbName := "file:./local.db"

    db, err := sql.Open("libsql", dbName)
    if err != nil {
      fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to open db %s", err)
      os.Exit(1)
    }
    defer db.Close()
  }
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import libsql_client

  client = libsql_client.create_client_sync(
      url="file:local.db"
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<br />

<Info>
  You don't need to provide an `authToken` in development.
</Info>

<Info>
  It's recommended to use environment variables for both `url` and `authToken` for a seamless developer experience.
</Info>

## Turso CLI

If you're using [libSQL](/libsql) specific features like [extensions](/libsql#extensions), you should use the Turso CLI:

```bash theme={null}
turso dev
```

This will start a local libSQL server and create a database for you. You can then connect to it using the `url` option in your SDK:

<CodeGroup>
  ```ts JavaScript theme={null}
  import { createClient } from "@libsql/client";

  const client = createClient({
    url: "http://127.0.0.1:8080",
  });
  ```

  ```rust Rust theme={null}
  let client = libsql_client::Client::from_config(libsql_client::Config {
      url: url::Url::parse("http://127.0.0.1:8080").unwrap(),
      auth_token: None,
  })
  .await
  .unwrap();
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import libsql_client

  client = libsql_client.create_client_sync(
      url="http://127.0.0.1:8080"
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<br />

<Warning>
  Changes will be lost when you stop the server.
</Warning>

If you want to persist changes, or use a production dump, you can pass the `--db-file` flag with the name of the SQLite file:

```bash theme={null}
turso dev --db-file local.db
```

## Turso Database

If you already have a database created with Turso, you can use that same one in development by passing the `url` option to your SDK.

<Warning>
  Keep in mind that using the Turso hosted database will incur platform costs and count towards your quota. Consider using [SQLite](#sqlite) or [Turso CLI](#turso-cli) for local development to avoid platform costs.
</Warning>

## Connecting a GUI

During development you can easily connect to a SQLite, libSQL, or Turso database using one of the tools below:

* [Beekeeper Studio](https://www.beekeeperstudio.io/db/libsql-client/) — macOS, Linux, and Windows
* [Outerbase](https://www.outerbase.com) — Runs in the browser
* [TablePlus](https://tableplus.com) — macOS, Windows, and Linux
* [Dataflare](https://dataflare.app) — Paid (with limited free version) macOS, Windows, and Linux
* [Outerbase Studio](https://libsqlstudio.com) - Runs in the browser
* [DBeaver](https://dbeaver.io) - macOS, Windows, and Linux