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richardnpaul
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database-migrations

Plan and implement reversible database migrations across PostgreSQL and MySQL.

Updated Apr 2, 2026
Search Tags:#rollback#database#migrations#zero-downtime#best-practices#backfill
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/richardnpaul/everything-vscode-copilot --skill database-migrations-richardnpaul
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: database-migrations
Source: https://github.com/richardnpaul/everything-vscode-copilot/tree/main/.github/skills/database-migrations
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/richardnpaul/everything-vscode-copilot --skill database-migrations-richardnpaul

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Database migrations are high-risk operations that can impact availability and data integrity. This Skill provides a comprehensive, battle-tested framework for planning, executing, and validating schema and data changes across PostgreSQL, MySQL, and popular ORMs (Prisma, Drizzle, Kysely, Django, TypeORM, golang-migrate) to minimize production downtime.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Safe change governance: UP and DOWN migrations, clear separation of schema and data changes, and immutable migrations.
  • Zero-downtime deployment guidance: Expand-contract patterns, concurrent operations, and safe index handling.
  • Operational readiness: Checklists, rollback plans, and deployment-ready migration templates for teams handling production databases.

Quick Start

Plan and implement a zero-downtime migration using the expand-contract pattern for a new feature.

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 production?▼

Zero-downtime database migrations utilize the expand-contract pattern to separate schema and data changes, ensuring concurrent operations and safe index handling without impacting production availability.

Does this database migration framework support PostgreSQL and MySQL?▼

Yes, the database migration framework supports PostgreSQL and MySQL, integrating with popular ORMs like Prisma, Drizzle, Kysely, Django, and TypeORM to standardize schema changes across teams.

What is the expand-contract pattern for database migrations?▼

The expand-contract pattern is a zero-downtime deployment method that separates schema expansions from data migrations and contractions, allowing safe, reversible database changes without locking tables.

How do I rollback a schema change safely?▼

To rollback a schema change safely, the framework enforces structured UP and DOWN migrations with immutable records, providing clear rollback plans and safety checklists for reversible database operations.

What's the best way to backfill data during a zero-downtime deployment?▼

Backfilling data during a zero-downtime deployment requires separating data migrations from schema changes, using concurrent operations to update records safely without locking the database.

Why separate schema and data changes in database migrations?▼

Separating schema and data changes in database migrations prevents locking and data integrity issues, allowing the expand-contract pattern to deploy updates safely with reliable rollback plans.

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