Getting Started

GDQL — the Grateful Dead Query Language — is a CLI tool for querying Grateful Dead live performance history. The database is embedded in the binary — download one file, run it, done.

Option A: Download a release (recommended)#

1. Open Releases and download gdql for your platform (or gdql.exe on Windows).
2. Move it somewhere on your PATH and make it executable:

   chmod +x ~/bin/gdql

3. Run your first query:

   gdql "SHOWS FROM 1977 LIMIT 5"

That’s it. The database (2,000+ shows, 500+ songs, 37,000+ performances) is baked into the binary. No separate database file needed.

If you only want a quick taste with no install at all, jump to the sandbox instead.

Option B: Build from source#

You’ll need Go 1.24 or newer.

git clone https://github.com/gdql/gdql
cd gdql
go build -o gdql ./cmd/gdql

The embedded database is compiled in automatically.

Run a query#

SHOWS FROM 1977 LIMIT 5;

SETLIST FOR 5/8/77;

COUNT "Dark Star";

Pass queries directly on the command line, from a file, or via stdin:

gdql "SHOWS FROM 1977 LIMIT 5"
gdql -f query.gdql
echo 'SHOWS FROM 1977;' | gdql -

Want JSON instead of a table? Add AS JSON:

SHOWS FROM 1977 LIMIT 5 AS JSON;

Where to next#

• Cookbook — Copy-paste recipes for common Grateful Dead setlist queries.
• Language reference — Every query type and clause documented.
• Sandbox — Run GDQL in the browser; share queries via URL.