database-migration

Execute database migrations across ORMs and platforms with zero-downtime strategies, data transformation, and rollback procedures. Use when migrating databases, changing schemas, performing data tr...

16 stars

Best use case

database-migration is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Execute database migrations across ORMs and platforms with zero-downtime strategies, data transformation, and rollback procedures. Use when migrating databases, changing schemas, performing data tr...

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

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/database-migration/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill/main/skills/backend/database-migration/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/database-migration/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How database-migration Compares

Feature / Agentdatabase-migrationStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Execute database migrations across ORMs and platforms with zero-downtime strategies, data transformation, and rollback procedures. Use when migrating databases, changing schemas, performing data tr...

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.

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 once

Related Skills

docker-database

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Configure database containers with security, persistence, and health checks

Database Sync

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Automate database synchronization, replication, migration, and cross-platform data integration

database-skill

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Design and manage relational databases including table creation, migrations, and schema design. Use for database modeling and maintenance.

database-architect

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Database design and optimization specialist. Schema design, query optimization, indexing strategies, data modeling, and migration planning for relational and NoSQL databases.

claude-opus-4-5-migration

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Migrate prompts and code from Claude Sonnet 4.0, Sonnet 4.5, or Opus 4.1 to Opus 4.5. Use when the user wants to update their codebase, prompts, or API calls to use Opus 4.5. Handles model string updates and prompt adjustments for known Opus 4.5 behavioral differences. Does NOT migrate Haiku 4.5.

arch-database

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

DB architecture: relational vs document vs graph vs vector, schema design, indexing, replication, sharding

airflow-3x-migration

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Comprehensive guide and patterns for migrating Apache Airflow 2.x workflows to Airflow 3.x, covering import changes, deprecated features, and new paradigms like Asset scheduling and TaskFlow API.

acsets-algebraic-databases

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

ACSets (Attributed C-Sets): Algebraic databases as in-memory data structures. Category-theoretic formalism for relational databases generalizing graphs and data frames.

tuist-migration

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Integrates Tuist into an existing iOS project that uses SPM local packages. Use when migrating a project from a manually maintained .xcodeproj to a Tuist-generated project, adding Tuist as an orchestration layer on top of SPM. Covers 8 sequential phases — audit, base structure, helpers, generation, schemes, CI, cache, and validation. Includes automation scripts and AI prompt templates for each phase.

vercel-kv-database-rules

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Defines how to interact with Vercel's KV database for storing and retrieving session and application data.

Validate with Database

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

Connect to live PostgreSQL database to validate schema assumptions, compare pg_dump vs pgschema output, and query system catalogs interactively

sqlmap-database-pentesting

16
from diegosouzapw/awesome-omni-skill

This skill should be used when the user asks to "automate SQL injection testing," "enumerate database structure," "extract database credentials using sqlmap," "dump tables and columns...