database-migrations

Guide database schema migrations across PostgreSQL, MySQL, and common ORMs.

Updated Jul 27, 2026

Search Tags:#database #postgresql #migrations #prisma #django #schema changes #zero downtime

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/kouiso/designdiff --skill database-migrations-kouiso

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: database-migrations
Source: https://github.com/kouiso/designdiff/tree/main/.claude/skills/database-migrations
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/kouiso/designdiff --skill database-migrations-kouiso

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides best practices and patterns for managing database schema changes, ensuring data integrity, and minimizing downtime during deployments.

Core Features & Use Cases

Schema Evolution: Safely add, alter, or remove tables and columns.
Data Migrations: Handle data backfills and transformations.
Zero-Downtime Deployments: Implement strategies for seamless production updates.
Rollback Planning: Ensure changes can be safely reverted.
Tooling Guidance: Covers popular ORMs and tools like Prisma, Drizzle, Django, and golang-migrate.

Quick Start

Use the database-migrations skill to learn how to safely add a new column to a PostgreSQL table.

Frequently Asked Questions about database-migrations

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I perform zero downtime database migrations in PostgreSQL?▼

Zero downtime database migrations require separating schema changes (DDL) from data migrations (DML), applying expand-contract patterns, and testing against production-sized data to avoid locks during PostgreSQL deployments.

What is the best way to handle data backfills during schema changes?▼

Handling data backfills during schema changes requires isolating data transformations from DDL, batching updates to minimize lock contention, and verifying row counts against production-sized datasets before completing the migration.

Can I use Prisma or Django for safe schema migrations?▼

Prisma and Django can be used for safe schema migrations by following principles like deployed migration immutability, separating DDL and DML, and planning rollbacks to ensure changes can be safely reverted without downtime.

How do I plan rollbacks for database schema changes?▼

Planning rollbacks for database schema changes involves writing backward-compatible migrations, testing reversion steps against production-sized data, and maintaining immutability of previously deployed migration files to ensure safe reverts.

When do I need to separate DDL and DML during database migrations?▼

You need to separate DDL and DML during database migrations when executing zero-downtime deployments, because mixing schema changes with data transformations causes table locks and blocks seamless production updates.