Start

raisdb shell                  # pick connection interactively, read-only (default)
raisdb shell main             # open the "main" connection
raisdb shell main --readwrite # allow writes

The shell is read-only by default. Use --readwrite to start in read-write mode, or \mode rw to flip later.

Backslash commands

Session

Command	Action
`\q` `\exit` `\quit`	Quit
`\h` `\?`	Help
`\history`	Print path (`~/.raisdb_history`); use ↑/↓ to browse

Command	Action
`\l`	List databases on the connection
`\dt`	List tables in the current database
`\dv`	List views
`\d [table]`	Describe a table (no arg = list tables)
`\c <database>`	Switch database on the same connection

Display

Command	Action
`\x`	Toggle expanded (one-row-per-block) display
`\mode ro\|readonly`	Switch to read-only
`\mode rw\|readwrite`	Switch to read-write
`\timing`	(always-on placeholder — elapsed_ms shows on every result)

Files

Command	Action
`\i <file>`	Execute SQL from a file
`\e`	Open `$EDITOR` (default `vi`) to write a query, then run it

AI

Command	Action
`\context [tbls]`	Print an AI-ready schema summary

SQL execution

End any statement with ; and press Enter. The shell runs the SQL through check_sql_safety_dialect and reads the engine's dialect so $$ / [] / backticks parse correctly.