the translation step from binary (program) -> text (SQL) -> binary (server)
Your concern about this is misguided. Inter-process communication always has to cross a barrier, by definition.
I take it http also feels wrong to you?
Binary protocols do exist, e.g. gRPC, but they incur costs of their own.
Excellent - I’m about to install it for my aged mother, because windows keeps moving her cheese.
I want something that doesn’t change the workflows once she’s learned how to do a task, and that local techs can help her with, and that I can VNC to when I have to.