Convert proprietary code to open ANSI SQL with Genie Code

Databricks has launched a beta agentic converter within its Genie Code AI coding assistant to translate proprietary SQL dialects—including T-SQL, Snowflake, Redshift, Oracle, BigQuery, and Teradata—into open ANSI SQL. The tool aims to reduce the complexity of migrating decades-old code and datasets from legacy data warehouses to modern platforms by automating dialect translation and code analysis. Migration projects in the Databricks workspace provide a centralized interface for teams to upload source files, track progress, and collaborate, with each file assessed for conversion complexity and dependencies.

The converter operates by analyzing source SQL files to generate complexity scores and lineage maps, which identify relationships between tables, views, and stored procedures. Teams can prioritize simpler files for migration first and determine which objects must move together. When conversion begins, Genie Code deploys subagents to process files in parallel, iteratively fixing errors to preserve original business logic and ensure syntactic correctness. In a proof of concept, six of eight T-SQL files were successfully converted, while two required manual review due to unresolved dependencies.

For files needing adjustments, Genie Code flags issues and suggests fixes, such as qualifying stored procedures with three-part names in Unity Catalog. Users can manually edit code or create custom conversion rules—known as custom skills—to automate recurring fixes across the entire codebase. These skills also support broader customizations, such as enforcing internal naming conventions or ETL patterns, streamlining large-scale migrations without requiring extensive re-engineering of existing logic.

The agentic converter builds on the success of Databricks’ Lakebridge migration tooling, which has assisted over a thousand customers since its debut at Data and AI Summit 2025. Future updates will expand support for legacy ETL sources and additional target dialects, while integrating data migration and reconciliation features via Lakeflow Connect. Teams interested in migration can contact their Databricks account team for an estate assessment and to trial the converter.