database-migration
Master database schema and data migrations across ORMs (Sequelize, TypeORM, Prisma), including rollback strategies and zero-downtime deployments.
Best use case
database-migration is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Master database schema and data migrations across ORMs (Sequelize, TypeORM, Prisma), including rollback strategies and zero-downtime deployments.
Teams using database-migration should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/database-migration/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How database-migration Compares
| Feature / Agent | database-migration | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Master database schema and data migrations across ORMs (Sequelize, TypeORM, Prisma), including rollback strategies and zero-downtime deployments.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Database Migration
Master database schema and data migrations across ORMs (Sequelize, TypeORM, Prisma), including rollback strategies and zero-downtime deployments.
## Do not use this skill when
- The task is unrelated to database migration
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope
## Instructions
- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.
- If detailed examples are required, open `resources/implementation-playbook.md`.
## Use this skill when
- Migrating between different ORMs
- Performing schema transformations
- Moving data between databases
- Implementing rollback procedures
- Zero-downtime deployments
- Database version upgrades
- Data model refactoring
## ORM Migrations
### Sequelize Migrations
```javascript
// migrations/20231201-create-users.js
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.createTable('users', {
id: {
type: Sequelize.INTEGER,
primaryKey: true,
autoIncrement: true
},
email: {
type: Sequelize.STRING,
unique: true,
allowNull: false
},
createdAt: Sequelize.DATE,
updatedAt: Sequelize.DATE
});
},
down: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.dropTable('users');
}
};
// Run: npx sequelize-cli db:migrate
// Rollback: npx sequelize-cli db:migrate:undo
```
### TypeORM Migrations
```typescript
// migrations/1701234567-CreateUsers.ts
import { MigrationInterface, QueryRunner, Table } from 'typeorm';
export class CreateUsers1701234567 implements MigrationInterface {
public async up(queryRunner: QueryRunner): Promise<void> {
await queryRunner.createTable(
new Table({
name: 'users',
columns: [
{
name: 'id',
type: 'int',
isPrimary: true,
isGenerated: true,
generationStrategy: 'increment'
},
{
name: 'email',
type: 'varchar',
isUnique: true
},
{
name: 'created_at',
type: 'timestamp',
default: 'CURRENT_TIMESTAMP'
}
]
})
);
}
public async down(queryRunner: QueryRunner): Promise<void> {
await queryRunner.dropTable('users');
}
}
// Run: npm run typeorm migration:run
// Rollback: npm run typeorm migration:revert
```
### Prisma Migrations
```prisma
// schema.prisma
model User {
id Int @id @default(autoincrement())
email String @unique
createdAt DateTime @default(now())
}
// Generate migration: npx prisma migrate dev --name create_users
// Apply: npx prisma migrate deploy
```
## Schema Transformations
### Adding Columns with Defaults
```javascript
// Safe migration: add column with default
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'status', {
type: Sequelize.STRING,
defaultValue: 'active',
allowNull: false
});
},
down: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'status');
}
};
```
### Renaming Columns (Zero Downtime)
```javascript
// Step 1: Add new column
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'full_name', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
// Copy data from old column
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
'UPDATE users SET full_name = name'
);
},
down: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'full_name');
}
};
// Step 2: Update application to use new column
// Step 3: Remove old column
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'name');
},
down: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'name', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
}
};
```
### Changing Column Types
```javascript
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
// For large tables, use multi-step approach
// 1. Add new column
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'age_new', {
type: Sequelize.INTEGER
});
// 2. Copy and transform data
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(`
UPDATE users
SET age_new = CAST(age AS INTEGER)
WHERE age IS NOT NULL
`);
// 3. Drop old column
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'age');
// 4. Rename new column
await queryInterface.renameColumn('users', 'age_new', 'age');
},
down: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
await queryInterface.changeColumn('users', 'age', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
}
};
```
## Data Transformations
### Complex Data Migration
```javascript
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
// Get all records
const [users] = await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
'SELECT id, address_string FROM users'
);
// Transform each record
for (const user of users) {
const addressParts = user.address_string.split(',');
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
`UPDATE users
SET street = :street,
city = :city,
state = :state
WHERE id = :id`,
{
replacements: {
id: user.id,
street: addressParts[0]?.trim(),
city: addressParts[1]?.trim(),
state: addressParts[2]?.trim()
}
}
);
}
// Drop old column
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'address_string');
},
down: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
// Reconstruct original column
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'address_string', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(`
UPDATE users
SET address_string = CONCAT(street, ', ', city, ', ', state)
`);
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'street');
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'city');
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'state');
}
};
```
## Rollback Strategies
### Transaction-Based Migrations
```javascript
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
const transaction = await queryInterface.sequelize.transaction();
try {
await queryInterface.addColumn(
'users',
'verified',
{ type: Sequelize.BOOLEAN, defaultValue: false },
{ transaction }
);
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
'UPDATE users SET verified = true WHERE email_verified_at IS NOT NULL',
{ transaction }
);
await transaction.commit();
} catch (error) {
await transaction.rollback();
throw error;
}
},
down: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'verified');
}
};
```
### Checkpoint-Based Rollback
```javascript
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
// Create backup table
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
'CREATE TABLE users_backup AS SELECT * FROM users'
);
try {
// Perform migration
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'new_field', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
// Verify migration
const [result] = await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
"SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM users WHERE new_field IS NULL"
);
if (result[0].count > 0) {
throw new Error('Migration verification failed');
}
// Drop backup
await queryInterface.dropTable('users_backup');
} catch (error) {
// Restore from backup
await queryInterface.sequelize.query('DROP TABLE users');
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(
'CREATE TABLE users AS SELECT * FROM users_backup'
);
await queryInterface.dropTable('users_backup');
throw error;
}
}
};
```
## Zero-Downtime Migrations
### Blue-Green Deployment Strategy
```javascript
// Phase 1: Make changes backward compatible
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
// Add new column (both old and new code can work)
await queryInterface.addColumn('users', 'email_new', {
type: Sequelize.STRING
});
}
};
// Phase 2: Deploy code that writes to both columns
// Phase 3: Backfill data
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.sequelize.query(`
UPDATE users
SET email_new = email
WHERE email_new IS NULL
`);
}
};
// Phase 4: Deploy code that reads from new column
// Phase 5: Remove old column
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface) => {
await queryInterface.removeColumn('users', 'email');
}
};
```
## Cross-Database Migrations
### PostgreSQL to MySQL
```javascript
// Handle differences
module.exports = {
up: async (queryInterface, Sequelize) => {
const dialectName = queryInterface.sequelize.getDialect();
if (dialectName === 'mysql') {
await queryInterface.createTable('users', {
id: {
type: Sequelize.INTEGER,
primaryKey: true,
autoIncrement: true
},
data: {
type: Sequelize.JSON // MySQL JSON type
}
});
} else if (dialectName === 'postgres') {
await queryInterface.createTable('users', {
id: {
type: Sequelize.INTEGER,
primaryKey: true,
autoIncrement: true
},
data: {
type: Sequelize.JSONB // PostgreSQL JSONB type
}
});
}
}
};
```
## Resources
- **references/orm-switching.md**: ORM migration guides
- **references/schema-migration.md**: Schema transformation patterns
- **references/data-transformation.md**: Data migration scripts
- **references/rollback-strategies.md**: Rollback procedures
- **assets/schema-migration-template.sql**: SQL migration templates
- **assets/data-migration-script.py**: Data migration utilities
- **scripts/test-migration.sh**: Migration testing script
## Best Practices
1. **Always Provide Rollback**: Every up() needs a down()
2. **Test Migrations**: Test on staging first
3. **Use Transactions**: Atomic migrations when possible
4. **Backup First**: Always backup before migration
5. **Small Changes**: Break into small, incremental steps
6. **Monitor**: Watch for errors during deployment
7. **Document**: Explain why and how
8. **Idempotent**: Migrations should be rerunnable
## Common Pitfalls
- Not testing rollback procedures
- Making breaking changes without downtime strategy
- Forgetting to handle NULL values
- Not considering index performance
- Ignoring foreign key constraints
- Migrating too much data at onceRelated Skills
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