February 11, 2026
Sizzle your SQL
Visualize MySQL query execution plans as interactive FlameGraphs
Make MySQL pain visible: clicky heat maps win hearts, one calls deep queries 'hellish'
TLDR: A new tool turns MySQL query plans into interactive flame graphs, highlighting slow steps. Comments cheered the clarity, shared a FOSDEM talk, joked about the video’s odd angle, and one warned deep plans signal “hellish SQL”—proof that visual bottleneck hunting matters for faster apps.
The MySQL crowd is buzzing over a new DIY tool that turns confusing database behavior into bright, clickable “flame” pictures you can actually understand. Instead of squinting at walls of stats, you get interactive heat maps and bar charts that show where time really vanishes—click to zoom, hover for details, and hunt bottlenecks fast. Creator vgrippa popped in with a humble “Thanks for posting!” while the community brought receipts: dveeden2 shared the presentation video, and lofaszvanitt asked for slides because “the video has this funny angle,” which instantly spawned jokes about databases filmed on a tilt.
The spiciest take came from hobs, declaring that anything deeper than a couple of events is “hellish SQL,” celebrating how execution plan flame graphs call out messy queries in seconds. Translation for non–data folks: these graphs show which parts of your database request are slow, so you can fix them without deciphering a novel. A few side-eyes did surface about needing the newest MySQL 8.4 setup and some Perl, but the vibe stayed optimistic and practical. In short: graphs > guesswork. The only drama left? Whether someone will upload the slides before the memes outnumber the queries.
Key Points
- •Open-source scripts visualize MySQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE (JSON v2) output as interactive flame graphs and bar charts.
- •Requires MySQL 8.4+ with explain_json_format_version = 2 and Perl 5.x.
- •Installation via git clone; run EXPLAIN ANALYZE FORMAT=JSON, save output, and feed JSON to scripts.
- •Flame graphs show hierarchical execution flow with rich tooltips; bar charts sort operations by self-time.
- •Outputs SVG files viewable in any browser; configurable width, colors, titles, and other options.