Getting started

1. Install

Download ByteRunner Setup.exe (v1.0.99,October 4, 2026) and run it. There's nothing else to install — ByteRunner bundles its own JDK 21 runtime, so compiling, running, and debugging all work out of the box.

The installers are code-signed as "Christian Oleson", so Windows shows a verified publisher. SmartScreen may still show a caution on a brand-new version until the signature builds reputation — if so, choose More info → Run anyway. Only download ByteRunner from this site or the ByteRunner-releases GitHub repo.

2. Your first query

Pick a language in the toolbar (Kotlin, Java, Groovy, or Scala), type a few lines, and pressF5. No main(), no project — statements just run. Three query modes are available in the toolbar: Expression (one expression, its value is the result), Statements (the default — a sequence of statements), andProgram (a full program with main()).

3. See results with dump()

dump(value) — or value.dump() — is how anything becomes visible. It's available in every query without imports:

val people = listOf(Person("Alice", 30), Person("Bob", 25))
dump(people, "People")   // a sortable table with a column per property

Collections render as sortable tables, objects as expandable trees, and JSON, XML, and images render natively. An expression query's final value is dumped automatically.

4. Connect a database Pro

Add a connection in the Explorer sidebar — PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, SQLite, H2, SQL Server, or DynamoDB — and browse its schema. In a query, every table becomes an accessor you can use directly:

Users                                   // SELECT * — rendered as a grid
Users.where { u -> u.age gt 21 }          // typed, autocompleted columns
    .select { u -> listOf(u.name) }
query("SELECT count(*) FROM Users")     // raw SQL when you want it

Want a playground? Browse Samples on the welcome screen creates a bundled SQLite sample database with a guided tour script. On a DynamoDB connection, right-click it and chooseAdd Sample Table: ByteRunner creates a small orders table in that DynamoDB (DynamoDB Local works) and opens a tour of Scan, Query, GetItem and PartiQL.

5. Debug Pro

Click the editor gutter (or press F9) to set a breakpoint, then start from theDebug menu. Step with F10/F11, watch variables live, and evaluate expressions in the Immediate window while paused.

6. Run tests inline

Declare @Test methods right in a query — JUnit's @Test andkotlin.test assertions ship with ByteRunner — and pressAlt+Shift+T:

7. Find your way around

Press F12, or Ctrl+click a name, to jump to where it's declared; forperson.name the compiler works out which class person is.Alt+Left takes you back. Alt+\ lists the query's classes, functions and properties: type part of a name and press Enter. The Navigate menu has the rest, including the next error and Ctrl+Tab between recent tabs.

8. My Extensions

File → Edit My Extensions opens a per-language helper file. Anything you define there — functions, types, constants — is available in every query of that language, no imports needed. Ctrl+S saves; changes apply on your next run.

9. Per-query properties

Press F4 for Query Properties: add namespace imports (likejava.util.*) that apply to every run of that query without writing the import, and see the query's language, connection, and dependencies at a glance. Saved with the query in its .brpad file.

Keyboard shortcuts

Updates

ByteRunner checks this site on startup and tells you when a new version is available — it never installs anything on its own. Help → What's New shows what changed in your version, and the full history is on the releases page.