Start aq and try entering the first example

> SELECT instance_type, count(*) count
QueryError: no such column: instance_type

aq treats the newline as the statement terminator and tries to run the query immediately.

How about using a semicolon as the statement terminator? This is what people will be used to from other SQl repls like mysql or psql.

The behavior I would expect is

 > SELECT count(*) from ec2_instances
->

Does not execute, waits for ;

 > SELECT count(*) from ec2_instances
-> ;

or

 > SELECT count(*) from ec2_instances;

Executes.

For bonus points

 > SELECT count(*) from ec2_instances; SELECT count(*) from ec2_images;

could execute two queries.