Backported default_allow_sql for 0.63.x, closes #1409

docs/authentication.rst

@@ -307,7 +307,13 @@ To limit access to the ``add_name`` canned query in your ``dogs.db`` database to
 Controlling the ability to execute arbitrary SQL
 ------------------------------------------------
 
-The ``"allow_sql"`` block can be used to control who is allowed to execute arbitrary SQL queries, both using the form on the database page e.g. https://latest.datasette.io/fixtures or by appending a ``?_where=`` parameter to the table page as seen on https://latest.datasette.io/fixtures/facetable?_where=city_id=1.
+Datasette defaults to allowing any site visitor to execute their own custom SQL queries, for example using the form on `the database page <https://latest.datasette.io/fixtures>`__ or by appending a ``?_where=`` parameter to the table page `like this <https://latest.datasette.io/fixtures/facetable?_where=_city_id=1>`__.
+
+Access to this ability is controlled by the :ref:`permissions_execute_sql` permission.
+
+The easiest way to disable arbitrary SQL queries is using the :ref:`default_allow_sql setting <setting_default_allow_sql>` when you first start Datasette running.
+
+You can alternatively use an ``"allow_sql"`` block to control who is allowed to execute arbitrary SQL queries.
 
 To enable just the :ref:`root user<authentication_root>` to execute SQL for all databases in your instance, use the following:
 
@@ -515,7 +521,7 @@ Actor is allowed to run arbitrary SQL queries against a specific database, e.g.
 ``resource`` - string
     The name of the database
 
-Default *allow*.
+Default *allow*. See also :ref:`the default_allow_sql setting <setting_default_allow_sql>`.
 
 .. _permissions_permissions_debug:
 

docs/cli-reference.rst

@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ These can be passed to ``datasette serve`` using ``datasette serve --setting nam
                                    (default=50)
       allow_facet                  Allow users to specify columns to facet using
                                    ?_facet= parameter (default=True)
+      default_allow_sql            Allow anyone to run arbitrary SQL queries
+                                   (default=True)
       allow_download               Allow users to download the original SQLite
                                    database files (default=True)
       suggest_facets               Calculate and display suggested facets

docs/settings.rst

@@ -59,6 +59,21 @@ Settings
 
 The following options can be set using ``--setting name value``, or by storing them in the ``settings.json`` file for use with :ref:`config_dir`.
 
+.. _setting_default_allow_sql:
+
+default_allow_sql
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Should users be able to execute arbitrary SQL queries by default?
+
+Setting this to ``off`` causes permission checks for :ref:`permissions_execute_sql` to fail by default.
+
+::
+
+    datasette mydatabase.db --setting default_allow_sql off
+
+There are two ways to achieve this: the other is to add ``"allow_sql": false`` to your ``metadata.json`` file, as described in :ref:`authentication_permissions_execute_sql`. This setting offers a more convenient way to do this.
+
 .. _setting_default_page_size:
 
 default_page_size