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Database Migration

Overview

Safe database schema evolution for production apps with user data. Core principle Migrations are immutable after shipping. Make them additive, idempotent, and thoroughly tested.

Example Prompts

These are real questions developers ask that this skill is designed to answer:

1. "I need to add a new column to store user preferences, but the app is already live with user data. How do I do this safely?"

→ The skill covers safe additive patterns for adding columns without losing existing data, including idempotency checks

2. "I'm getting 'cannot add NOT NULL column' errors when I try to migrate. What does this mean and how do I fix it?"

→ The skill explains why NOT NULL columns fail with existing rows, and shows the safe pattern (nullable first, backfill later)

3. "I need to change a column from text to integer. Can I just ALTER the column type?"

→ The skill demonstrates the safe pattern: add new column → migrate data → deprecate old (NEVER delete)

4. "I'm adding a foreign key relationship between tables. How do I add the relationship without breaking existing data?"

→ The skill covers safe foreign key patterns: add column → populate data → add index (SQLite limitations explained)

5. "Users are reporting crashes after the last update. I changed a migration but the app is already in production. What do I do?"

→ The skill explains migrations are immutable after shipping; shows how to create a new migration to fix the issue rather than modifying the old one

⛔ NEVER Do These (Data Loss Risk)

These actions DESTROY user data in production

❌ NEVER use DROP TABLE with user data ❌ NEVER modify shipped migrations (create new one instead) ❌ NEVER recreate tables to change schema (loses data) ❌ NEVER add NOT NULL column without DEFAULT value ❌ NEVER delete columns (SQLite doesn't support DROP COLUMN safely)

If you're tempted to do any of these, STOP and use the safe patterns below.

Mandatory Rules

ALWAYS follow these

1. Additive only Add new columns/tables, never delete
2. Idempotent Check existence before creating (safe to run twice)
3. Transactional Wrap entire migration in single transaction
4. Test both paths Fresh install AND migration from previous version
5. Nullable first Add columns as NULL, backfill later if needed
6. Immutable Once shipped to users, migrations cannot be changed

Safe Patterns

Adding Column (Most Common)

// ✅ Safe pattern
func migration00X_AddNewColumn() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        // 1. Check if column exists (idempotency)
        let hasColumn = try db.columns(in: "tableName")
            .contains { $0.name == "newColumn" }

        if !hasColumn {
            // 2. Add as nullable (works with existing rows)
            try db.execute(sql: """
                ALTER TABLE tableName
                ADD COLUMN newColumn TEXT
            """)
        }
    }
}

Why this works

• Nullable columns don't require DEFAULT
• Existing rows get NULL automatically
• No data transformation needed
• Safe for users upgrading from old versions

Adding Column with Default Value

// ✅ Safe pattern with default
func migration00X_AddColumnWithDefault() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        let hasColumn = try db.columns(in: "tracks")
            .contains { $0.name == "playCount" }

        if !hasColumn {
            try db.execute(sql: """
                ALTER TABLE tracks
                ADD COLUMN playCount INTEGER DEFAULT 0
            """)
        }
    }
}

Changing Column Type (Advanced)

Pattern : Add new column → migrate data → deprecate old (NEVER delete)

// ✅ Safe pattern for type change
func migration00X_ChangeColumnType() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        // Step 1: Add new column with new type
        try db.execute(sql: """
            ALTER TABLE users
            ADD COLUMN age_new INTEGER
        """)

        // Step 2: Migrate existing data
        try db.execute(sql: """
            UPDATE users
            SET age_new = CAST(age_old AS INTEGER)
            WHERE age_old IS NOT NULL
        """)

        // Step 3: Application code uses age_new going forward
        // (Never delete age_old column - just stop using it)
    }
}

Adding Foreign Key Constraint

// ✅ Safe pattern for foreign keys
func migration00X_AddForeignKey() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        // Step 1: Add new column (nullable initially)
        try db.execute(sql: """
            ALTER TABLE tracks
            ADD COLUMN album_id TEXT
        """)

        // Step 2: Populate the data
        try db.execute(sql: """
            UPDATE tracks
            SET album_id = (
                SELECT id FROM albums
                WHERE albums.title = tracks.album_name
            )
        """)

        // Step 3: Add index (helps query performance)
        try db.execute(sql: """
            CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_tracks_album_id
            ON tracks(album_id)
        """)

        // Note: SQLite doesn't allow adding FK constraints to existing tables
        // The foreign key relationship is enforced at the application level
    }
}

Complex Schema Refactoring

Pattern : Break into multiple migrations

// Migration 1: Add new structure
func migration010_AddNewTable() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        try db.execute(sql: """
            CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS new_structure (
                id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
                data TEXT
            )
        """)
    }
}

// Migration 2: Copy data
func migration011_MigrateData() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        try db.execute(sql: """
            INSERT INTO new_structure (id, data)
            SELECT id, data FROM old_structure
        """)
    }
}

// Migration 3: Add indexes
func migration012_AddIndexes() throws {
    try database.write { db in
        try db.execute(sql: """
            CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_new_structure_data
            ON new_structure(data)
        """)
    }
}

// Old structure stays around (deprecated in code)

Testing Checklist

BEFORE deploying any migration

// Test 1: Migration path (CRITICAL - tests data preservation)
@Test func migrationFromV1ToV2Succeeds() async throws {
    let db = try Database(inMemory: true)

    // Simulate v1 schema
    try db.write { db in
        try db.execute(sql: "CREATE TABLE tableName (id TEXT PRIMARY KEY)")
        try db.execute(sql: "INSERT INTO tableName (id) VALUES ('test1')")
    }

    // Run v2 migration
    try db.runMigrations()

    // Verify data survived + new column exists
    try db.read { db in
        let count = try Int.fetchOne(db, sql: "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tableName")
        #expect(count == 1)  // Data preserved

        let columns = try db.columns(in: "tableName").map { $0.name }
        #expect(columns.contains("newColumn"))  // New column exists
    }
}

Test 2 Fresh install (run all migrations, verify final schema)

@Test func freshInstallCreatesCorrectSchema() async throws {
    let db = try Database(inMemory: true)

    // Run all migrations
    try db.runMigrations()

    // Verify final schema
    try db.read { db in
        let tables = try db.tables()
        #expect(tables.contains("tableName"))

        let columns = try db.columns(in: "tableName").map { $0.name }
        #expect(columns.contains("id"))
        #expect(columns.contains("newColumn"))
    }
}

Test 3 Idempotency (run migrations twice, should not throw)

@Test func migrationsAreIdempotent() async throws {
    let db = try Database(inMemory: true)

    // Run migrations twice
    try db.runMigrations()
    try db.runMigrations()  // Should not throw

    // Verify still correct
    try db.read { db in
        let count = try Int.fetchOne(db, sql: "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tableName")
        #expect(count == 0)  // No duplicate data
    }
}

Manual testing (before TestFlight)

1. Install v(n-1) build on device → add real user data
2. Install v(n) build (with new migration)
3. Verify: App launches, data visible, no crashes

Decision Tree

What are you trying to do?
├─ Add new column?
│  └─ ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN (nullable) → Done
├─ Add column with default?
│  └─ ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN ... DEFAULT value → Done
├─ Change column type?
│  └─ Add new column → Migrate data → Deprecate old → Done
├─ Delete column?
│  └─ Mark as deprecated in code → Never delete from schema → Done
├─ Rename column?
│  └─ Add new column → Migrate data → Deprecate old → Done
├─ Add foreign key?
│  └─ Add column → Populate data → Add index → Done
└─ Complex refactor?
   └─ Break into multiple migrations → Test each step → Done

Common Errors

Common Mistakes

❌ Adding NOT NULL without DEFAULT

// ❌ Fails on existing data
ALTER TABLE albums ADD COLUMN rating INTEGER NOT NULL

✅ Correct: Add as nullable first

ALTER TABLE albums ADD COLUMN rating INTEGER  // NULL allowed
// Backfill in separate migration if needed
UPDATE albums SET rating = 0 WHERE rating IS NULL

❌ Forgetting to check for existence — Always add IF NOT EXISTS or manual check

❌ Modifying shipped migrations — Create new migration instead

❌ Not testing migration path — Always test upgrade from previous version

GRDB-Specific Patterns

DatabaseMigrator Setup

var migrator = DatabaseMigrator()

// Migration 1
migrator.registerMigration("v1") { db in
    try db.execute(sql: """
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
            id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
            name TEXT NOT NULL
        )
    """)
}

// Migration 2
migrator.registerMigration("v2") { db in
    let hasColumn = try db.columns(in: "users")
        .contains { $0.name == "email" }

    if !hasColumn {
        try db.execute(sql: """
            ALTER TABLE users
            ADD COLUMN email TEXT
        """)
    }
}

// Apply migrations
try migrator.migrate(dbQueue)

Checking Migration Status

// Check which migrations have been applied
let appliedMigrations = try dbQueue.read { db in
    try migrator.appliedMigrations(db)
}
print("Applied migrations: \(appliedMigrations)")

// Check if migrations are needed
let hasBeenMigrated = try dbQueue.read { db in
    try migrator.hasBeenMigrated(db)
}

SwiftData Migrations

For SwiftData (iOS 17+), use VersionedSchema and SchemaMigrationPlan:

// Define schema versions
enum MyAppSchemaV1: VersionedSchema {
    static var versionIdentifier = Schema.Version(1, 0, 0)
    static var models: [any PersistentModel.Type] {
        [Track.self, Album.self]
    }
}

enum MyAppSchemaV2: VersionedSchema {
    static var versionIdentifier = Schema.Version(2, 0, 0)
    static var models: [any PersistentModel.Type] {
        [Track.self, Album.self, Playlist.self]  // Added Playlist
    }
}

// Define migration plan
enum MyAppMigrationPlan: SchemaMigrationPlan {
    static var schemas: [any VersionedSchema.Type] {
        [MyAppSchemaV1.self, MyAppSchemaV2.self]
    }

    static var stages: [MigrationStage] {
        [migrateV1toV2]
    }

    static let migrateV1toV2 = MigrationStage.custom(
        fromVersion: MyAppSchemaV1.self,
        toVersion: MyAppSchemaV2.self,
        willMigrate: nil,
        didMigrate: { context in
            // Custom migration logic here
        }
    )
}

Real-World Impact

Before Developer adds NOT NULL column → migration fails for 50% of users → emergency rollback → data inconsistency

After Developer adds nullable column → tests both paths → smooth deployment → backfills data in v2

Key insight Migrations can't be rolled back in production. Get them right the first time through thorough testing.

tvOS

tvOS migrations may run against a fresh database. The system deletes local storage under pressure, so your app may launch with no database at all. Migrations must handle this gracefully — they effectively become both "create" and "upgrade" operations.

Key implications :

• Migrations must be idempotent (already a best practice, but critical here)
• Don't assume previous data exists for backfill operations
• Test the "fresh install" path as often as the "upgrade" path

See axiom-tvos for full tvOS storage constraints.

Last Updated : 2025-11-28 Frameworks : SQLite, GRDB, SwiftData Status : Production-ready patterns for safe schema evolution

Weekly Installs

97

Repository

charleswiltgen/axiom

GitHub Stars

610

First Seen

Jan 21, 2026

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