How to install sqlite3 on macOS

SQLite is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that is designed for embedded use, self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional, and cross-platform.

The third major version sqlite3, released in 2004, has since become the most widely used version of SQLite and is the version you’ll typically encounter when working with SQLite databases. It comes pre-installed on macOS at /usr/bin/sqlite3, so you typically don’t need to install it separately.

You can verify if SQLite is installed on your Mac by opening the Terminal and typing:

sqlite3 --version

If sqlite3 is installed, you’ll see the version number. If it’s not installed, you’ll receive a message indicating that sqlite3 is not found.

In case you want to re-install or use a different version, you have a few options:

Using Homebrew

Homebrew is a popular package manager for macOS and Linux. It allows users to easily install, manage, and update software packages from the command line. Homebrew simplifies the process of installing software by handling dependencies and providing a centralized location for managing software installations.

Once Homebrew is installed and updated, you can install SQLite by running the following command:

brew install sqlite

Homebrew will download and install SQLite and its dependencies. Once the installation is complete, you should be able to use SQLite from the command line.

sqlite3 --version

You can upgrade SQLite to the latest version using the following command:

brew upgrade sqlite

Using MacPorts

You can install SQLite using MacPorts, which is another package manager for macOS similar to Homebrew. MacPorts allows you to easily install, manage, and update software packages from the command line.

If you haven’t installed MacPorts yet, you can do so by downloading and running the installer from the MacPorts website. Once MacPorts is installed and updated, you can install SQLite by running the following command in Terminal:

sudo port install sqlite3

This command will download and install SQLite along with its dependencies. You’ll be prompted to enter your password (for sudo access) during the installation process.

You can upgrade SQLite to the latest version using the following command:

sudo port selfupdate
sudo port upgrade sqlite3

Using source code

Installing software from source code can be more complex and error-prone compared to using package managers like Homebrew or MacPorts. You’ll need to ensure that all required libraries and dependencies are installed on your system and properly configured.

While it’s generally not recommended, if you still prefer this approach, here’s step-by-step:

Visit the SQLite download page and download sqlite-autoconf-*.tar.gz. Once the download is complete, extract the downloaded file to a directory of your choice.

tar xvfz sqlite-autoconf-*.tar.gz

Navigate to the directory containing the extracted files:

cd sqlite-autoconf-*

Run the ./configure script to prepare the build environment for your system:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local

Compile the source code using the make command:

make

Finally, install SQLite using make install:

make install

Remember to check the documentation or README files included in the source code for any platform-specific instructions or dependencies that might be required before the installation.

Using pre-compiled binaries

To install SQLite on your Mac using pre-compiled binaries, you can follow these steps:

Visit the SQLite Download Page and download the sqlite-tools-osx-x64-*.zip file from the “Precompiled Binaries for Mac OS X (x86)” section.

Locate the downloaded .zip file in your Downloads folder and unzip it. This can typically be done by double-clicking the file.

Execute the following commands to move the SQLite tools to a directory that’s in your system’s PATH, such as /usr/local/bin:

mv sqlite-tools-osx-x64-*/sqlite3 /usr/local/bin/

Remember, if /usr/local/bin is not in your PATH, you’ll need to add it.