SQLite WAL Recovery

This skill provides guidance for recovering data from SQLite Write-Ahead Log (WAL) files that appear corrupted, encrypted, or otherwise inaccessible.

Core Principle

Recovery means finding existing data, not generating new data. Never fabricate or guess data based on patterns. The goal is to locate and extract actual data from the source files.

Initial Assessment

Verify WAL Mode and File Presence

1. Check if the database is in WAL mode:

   PRAGMA journal_mode;
   

2. Identify all database-related files (typically main.db, main.db-wal, main.db-shm)