"Bobby" is a new GNOME Circle app for browsing databases
With GNOME Circle certification, you can expect the app to meet reliability and accessibility standards that other FOSS apps aren't held to.
The developer of Bobby, a GTK app for browsing SQLite databases, just announced its entry to the GNOME Circle program. That means you'll see the app promoted around the GNOME ecosystem, and this is what you need to know about it.
Introducing Bobby
Bobby is a free and open source graphical database browser for SQLite, probably the most common database engine you'll find being used on your Linux system. If you ever have the need to review one of these databases, Bobby makes it easy.
With a database open in Bobby, you can filter for specific data and Bobby can be set as the default app to open files with a .db or .sqlite extension.
The app's odd name is a reference to the xkcd comic "Exploits of a Mom" which pokes fun at a common database vulnerability where data manipulation by adversaries can happen if input data is not "sanitized" first.
Bobby's lead developer, Hylke Bons, made a Mastodon post celebrating the acceptance of Bobby into the GNOME Circle on June 6. Bons had first introduced Bobby in December 2025.
Hylke Bons 🥜The background: Bobby's entrance into the GNOME Circle means it'll be promoted on various GNOME websites and interfaces, and it'll have to meet minimum standards of reliability and accessibility. It also means that Bobby's developers get access to more community support and professional opportunities in the FOSS world.
Bons has also designed app icons for other GNOME apps and the Pidgin chat platform. He's previously worked for Red Hat and was a product design lead on Visual Studio for Mac.
Zooming out
Why this announcement matters: The further expansion of GNOME Circle means more reliable and accessible apps in the GNOME ecosystem.
My take: I don't use GNOME apps very much, but I do know from experience browsing databases can be intimidating. An app that simplifies the process I'm sure will help people.
Diving in
Go further: Check out Bobby's listing on GNOME Apps to learn more about the app and where to explore the source code.
Get it now: Bobby is available from Flathub, meaning it's likely in whatever software browser you use.
