Version control for database schema

Day 127 of 149

👉 Full deep-dive with code examples

The Recipe Card Analogy

Your grandma's recipe evolves:

Version 1: Original recipe

Version 2: Add a pinch of salt

Version 3: Use brown sugar instead of white

Each change is recorded and reversible

Database migrations track changes to your database structure!

Why Migrations Matter

Without migrations:

"Did we add that column?"

"What does the database look like in production?"

"How do I set up a new developer's database?"

Everyone's database might be different!

How They Work

Each migration is a file:

Migration 1: Create users table Migration 2: Add email column to users Migration 3: Create orders table Migration 4: Add index on email

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Run in order, your database evolves consistently.

Key Features

Forward (up):

Apply changes: add column, create table

Backward (down):

Undo changes: remove column, drop table

Version tracking:

Database knows which migrations…