user18196: 1) What is the format of the LevelDB databases stored in the database directory?
I know there are some custom blockchain parsing libraries, such as this one, but I'm wondering if I can just do a read of the chainstate database to get some basic information about the UTXO set. 
2) Is there some sort of a LevelDB database explorer GUI that I can use to see what's in this database?
3) Could I have a second program that just read from this database? Would it be safe or would I mess up the database if I tried this?

user19354: You can find how to read the blockchain leveldb (format and meaning of the keys) here: What are the keys used in the blockchain levelDB (ie what are the key:value pairs)?
no idea (yet) for the UTXO :-)

18196: <p>1) What is the format of the LevelDB databases stored in the database directory?</p>

<p>I know there are some custom blockchain parsing libraries, such as <a href="https://code.google.com/p/blockchain/" rel="nofollow">this one</a>, but I'm wondering if I can just do a read of the chainstate database to get some basic information about the UTXO set. </p>

<p>2) Is there some sort of a LevelDB database explorer GUI that I can use to see what's in this database?</p>

<p>3) Could I have a second program that just read from this database? Would it be safe or would I mess up the database if I tried this?</p>
 19354: <p>You can find how to read the blockchain leveldb (format and meaning of the keys) here: <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/28168/what-are-the-keys-used-in-the-blockchain-leveldb-ie-what-are-the-keyvalue-pair">What are the keys used in the blockchain levelDB (ie what are the key:value pairs)?</a></p>

<p>no idea (yet) for the UTXO :-)</p>
