MySQL ShellCLI Interfaces are usually boring, ASCII-ish functional interfaces that are as about as exciting as paint drying or end user license agreements for your rice steamer. They get the job done but no excitement. The new MySQL Shell (mysqlsh instead of mysql at the command line is a great new tool but like its predecessor it is not exactly visually dynamic.

Until Now.

At labs.mysql.com there is a new version of the MySQL Shell that adds some new functionality and some visual enticements. I was in a session at Oracle OpenWorld and was impressed by not only the visually stunning upgrade but by the fact that we now get command auto-completion!

You can login as you did with the old shell but then you see that little bit …