Database Migration (2026): DMS, Flyway, Liquibase & gh-ost

What Is Database Migration?

12 entries

Database migration covers two related jobs: moving data between systems, for example from an on-premises Oracle database to PostgreSQL on a cloud, and evolving a database schema over time through versioned changes. Data migrations use bulk load, change data capture and cutover planning to keep downtime short, while schema migrations use tools that apply versioned scripts and, for large tables, online schema change techniques. Descriptions below follow each project's or vendor's own pages and are not rankings; release facts come from GitHub.

01Change Data Capture (CDC) PlatformsCDC and replication platforms used for low-downtime cutover, on this site. 02ETL and ELT ToolsLoading and transformation tools, on this site. 03Database ReplicationCopying data for availability, on this site. 04Database Backup and RecoveryBackups and disaster recovery, on this site. 05Relational Databases (SQL)PostgreSQL, MySQL and more, on this site. 06Cloud Database Management SystemsCloud DBMS offerings, on this site. 07Database SystemsDatabase systems hub, on this site. 08Cloud Migration ToolsCloud migration tools for servers, VMs and applications. 09Mainframe ModernizationMainframe modernization tools and platforms. 10Legacy Application ModernizationCOBOL to cloud-native and AI. 11Application ModernizationStrategies, incremental patterns, assessment and modernization tools. 12ReplatformingContainerization tools, managed platforms and assessment resources.

Managed Cloud Migration Services

8 entries

Cloud services for moving databases with minimal downtime.

13AWS Database Migration ServiceAWS describes a managed service for migrating and replicating databases; its user guide covers full load and change data capture. 14AWS Schema Conversion ToolAWS documentation on converting database schemas and code from one engine to another. 15AWS DMS best practicesAWS guidance on planning and running migrations with DMS. 16Azure Database Migration ServiceMicrosoft documentation on its migration service for SQL Server and other engines. 17SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA)Microsoft tool for migrating other databases to SQL Server and Azure SQL. 18Google Database Migration ServiceGoogle describes a service for migrating databases to Cloud SQL and AlloyDB. 19Google DMS for PostgreSQLGoogle documentation on migrating PostgreSQL databases. 20MongoDB Relational MigratorMongoDB describes a tool for migrating relational databases to MongoDB.

Open-Source Data Migration Tools

8 entries

Tools for converting and moving data, mainly to PostgreSQL.

21Ora2PgTool for migrating Oracle and MySQL databases to PostgreSQL; GitHub lists v25.0 (April 2025) as the latest release, and the repository was updated in September 2026. 22pgloaderTool that loads data from other databases and files into PostgreSQL; its latest GitHub release, v3.6.9, dates from October 2022, although the repository was updated in September 2026. 23pgcopydbTool that copies a PostgreSQL database to another server, with change data capture support; GitHub lists v0.18 (27 June 2026) as the latest release. 24Babelfish for PostgreSQLExtension that lets PostgreSQL accept SQL Server clients and T-SQL, to ease migrations from SQL Server. 25DebeziumOpen-source change data capture platform used to stream changes during a migration. 26PostgreSQL pg_upgradePostgreSQL documentation on upgrading a cluster to a new major version in place. 27PostgreSQL upgrading guidePostgreSQL documentation on dump and restore, pg_upgrade and logical replication upgrade paths. 28MySQL upgradingMySQL reference manual on upgrading; the MySQL documentation returned 403 to automated checks and may need a manual click.

Commercial Replication and Migration Tools

3 entries

Vendor products often used for heterogeneous, low-downtime migrations.

29Oracle GoldenGateOracle describes real-time data integration, replication and streaming across databases and clouds. 30StriimStriim describes a real-time data integration and streaming platform with change data capture. 31BytebaseBytebase describes a database DevSecOps platform for schema change review and rollout; GitHub lists 3.24.0 (22 October 2026) as the latest release.

Schema Migration and Version Control Tools

9 entries

Tools that apply versioned schema changes in a controlled order.

Zero-Downtime and Online Schema Change

7 entries

Tools and patterns that change large tables without long locks.

41gh-ostGitHub's triggerless online schema migration tool for MySQL; GitHub lists v1.1.11 (17 August 2026) as the latest release. 42pt-online-schema-changePercona Toolkit tool for altering MySQL tables without blocking reads and writes. 43pgrollZero-downtime, reversible schema migration tool for PostgreSQL; GitHub lists v0.16.3 (8 September 2026) as the latest release. 44ReshapeZero-downtime schema migration tool for PostgreSQL; GitHub lists v0.11.2 (9 September 2026) as the latest release. 45PostgreSQL ALTER TABLEPostgreSQL documentation on ALTER TABLE, including operations that rewrite tables or take strong locks. 46Parallel Change (Martin Fowler)Fowler's expand and contract pattern for changing interfaces, including database schemas, without breaking clients. 47Evolutionary Database Design (Martin Fowler)Fowler's article on evolving databases with continuous delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is database migration?

Moving data and schema from one database system to another, or evolving a schema over time through versioned changes. The first is a data migration project, and the second is routine schema migration in application development.

How do I migrate a database with minimal downtime?

Copy the initial data with a bulk load, then keep the target in sync with change data capture or logical replication, test the target, and cut over by briefly pausing writes. AWS DMS, Google Database Migration Service, pgcopydb and Debezium support this approach. See the CDC Platforms page.

What is the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous migration?

Homogeneous migration keeps the same engine, such as PostgreSQL to PostgreSQL, and can often use native replication. Heterogeneous migration changes engine, for example Oracle to PostgreSQL, and also needs schema and code conversion with tools such as AWS SCT, SSMA or Ora2Pg.

How do I change a schema without downtime?

Use the expand and contract pattern: add new structures, deploy code that writes to both, backfill, switch reads, then remove the old structures. Online tools such as gh-ost and pt-online-schema-change for MySQL, and pgroll or Reshape for PostgreSQL, automate parts of it.

Which schema migration tool should I use?

Flyway and Liquibase are widely used across languages, while Alembic, Prisma Migrate, golang-migrate, goose and dbmate fit specific ecosystems. Atlas and Bytebase add declarative workflows and review. Pick the tool your application framework and CI already support.

How should I validate a migration?

Compare row counts and checksums, run application and performance tests against the target, rehearse the cutover, and keep the source available for rollback. Take a backup before cutover. See the Database Backup and Recovery page.

How current is this page?

Links and release facts were checked on 31 October 2026 from GitHub. The MySQL documentation returned 403 to automated checks, and a Qlik link that returned 404 was dropped. pgloader and Ora2Pg have not had a release since 2022 and April 2025 respectively, as their cards note. Descriptions follow each project's or vendor's own pages and are not rankings.