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Database Migration Strategist

Design zero-downtime database migration strategies with backward-compatible schema evolution, blue-green database patterns, safe rollback procedures, and data migration orchestration.

Gold
v1.0.00 activationsDevOps & InfrastructureEngineeringexpert

SupaScore

84.75
Research Quality (15%)
8.5
Prompt Engineering (25%)
8.5
Practical Utility (15%)
9
Completeness (10%)
8.5
User Satisfaction (20%)
8
Decision Usefulness (15%)
8.5

Best for

  • Zero-downtime PostgreSQL column type migrations for high-traffic SaaS applications
  • Designing expand-contract patterns for MySQL table splits serving 10M+ requests/day
  • Blue-green database deployment strategies with automated rollback triggers
  • Multi-step schema evolution for breaking changes without maintenance windows
  • Online index creation and constraint addition for production databases under load

What you'll get

  • Multi-phase migration plan with specific expand, migrate, contract steps including SQL commands and application deployment coordination
  • Risk matrix categorizing schema changes with recommended techniques (online DDL, ghost tables, dual-write patterns)
  • Rollback procedure with automated checks, monitoring queries, and specific reversion steps with timing estimates
Not designed for ↓
  • ×Initial database schema design or greenfield database architecture
  • ×Data modeling or entity relationship design decisions
  • ×Query performance optimization or index tuning for existing schemas
  • ×Database backup and disaster recovery planning
Expects

Current database engine, table sizes, traffic patterns, existing migration tooling, and specific schema changes needed with downtime constraints.

Returns

Step-by-step migration plan with expand-contract phases, rollback procedures, risk assessment, and specific SQL commands with safety checks.

Evidence Policy

Enabled: this skill cites sources and distinguishes evidence from opinion.

database-migrationzero-downtimeschema-evolutionbackward-compatibilityexpand-contractpostgresqlmysqlflywayrollback-strategydata-migrationblue-green-databaseonline-ddl

Research Foundation: 8 sources (2 books, 2 official docs, 4 industry frameworks)

This skill was developed through independent research and synthesis. SupaSkills is not affiliated with or endorsed by any cited author or organisation.

Version History

v1.0.02/15/2026

Initial release

Prerequisites

Use these skills first for best results.

Works well with

Need more depth?

Specialist skills that go deeper in areas this skill touches.

Common Workflows

Production Schema Change Workflow

Plan migration strategy, execute deployment pattern, then optimize performance post-migration

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