Database Migrations

Overview

Database migrations manage schema changes in a controlled, versioned manner, enabling safe evolution of database structure. This skill should be invoked when evolving database schema, managing team database development, or rolling back problematic changes.

Core Principles

• Version Control: Store migrations in version control alongside code
• Idempotency: Migrations should be safe to run multiple times
• Forward and Backward: Support both applying and rolling back changes
• Small Batches: Prefer small, focused migrations over large ones

Preparation Checklist

• Choose migration tool (Alembic, Prisma, TypeORM, Flyway)
• Initialize migration system in project
• Set up migration tracking table
• Define naming convention for migrations