Generate CockroachDB SQL and migrations for schema changes. Use when creating migrations, updating the database schema, or when the user mentions migrations, schema changes, or dbinit.sql.
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name: crdb-change description: Generate CockroachDB SQL and migrations for schema changes. Use when creating migrations, updating the database schema, or when the user mentions migrations, schema changes, or dbinit.sql.
CockroachDB database changes
Generate database changes for this repository. This includes changes to:
schema/crdb/dbinit.sql- Migrations for changes
Instructions
Follow these steps in order. Do not skip ahead.
Step 1: Ascertain the scope of the request
If not already provided, prompt the user whether they'd like to:
- Perform both a dbinit.sql change and a migration: If this is the case, then:
- Ask the user to describe the changes they'd like to perform to
dbinit.sql. - Make those changes, asking the user followup questions as necessary.
- Go directly to step 3, with the scope of the migration being to cover those changes.
- Ask the user to describe the changes they'd like to perform to
- Write migrations for pre-existing changes: In this case, changes need to be fetched from version control. Go to step 2.
Step 2: Get the diff
Check if .jj exists in the repository to determine whether to use jj or git commands.
Prompt the user to ask where the schema changes are:
-
Uncommitted changes: Changes not yet committed.
- git:
git diff -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql(unstaged) orgit diff --cached -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql(staged) - jj:
jj diff -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql
- git:
-
This commit only (stacked diff workflow): Changes are in the current commit only.
- git:
git diff HEAD^ -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql - jj:
jj diff --from @-- -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql
- git:
-
This branch (feature branch workflow): Changes span the entire branch.
- git:
git diff $(git merge-base HEAD main) -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql - jj:
jj diff --from 'fork_point(trunk() | @)' -- schema/crdb/dbinit.sql
- git:
If the diff doesn't show anything, ask the user which ref to diff from.
Step 3: Create migration folder
Create a new folder under schema/crdb/ using the provided name or a short descriptive name derived from the schema changes.
Use existing folder names in schema/crdb/ as examples for naming conventions.
NOTE: The numbered folders, e.g. 1.0.0, are for legacy support only. No additional numbered directories should be added.
Step 4: Write migration files
Based on the diff from step 1, write migration files in order:
- Use
up01.sql,up02.sqletc. (zero-padded) if you have more than 10 files. - Use
up1.sql,up2.sqletc. if you have 10 or fewer files. - For Data Definition Language (DDL) statements, one statement per file!
- For Data Modifying Language (DML) statements, multiple statements are allowed per file.
- For
ALTER TABLEwith multiple columns, you can add them all in one statement. - When adding
NOT NULLcolumns to existing tables, add temporary defaults, then remove them in later migration files. - Use
IF NOT EXISTSfor idempotency where supported. - Individual
up.sqlfiles are executed within a transaction (this always happens), and should be idempotent (this is an expectation that the migration author must uphold, with, e.g.IF NOT EXISTS).
Step 5: Update dbinit.sql version
Bump the version number at the end of schema/crdb/dbinit.sql.
Step 6: Update SCHEMA_VERSION
In nexus/db-model/src/schema_versions.rs, bump SCHEMA_VERSION.
Step 7: Add to KNOWN_VERSIONS
In nexus/db-model/src/schema_versions.rs, add the new version to the KNOWN_VERSIONS list.
Step 8: Test the migration
Run cargo nextest run -p omicron-nexus schema to verify that the migration is correct.
Common issues
- Don't guess table names—use the diff from step 1 to find the correct table.
- When adding constraints, always use
IF NOT EXISTSfor idempotency. - For columns with defaults in migration but not in final schema, add the defaults during migration then remove them.
- Don't skip step 1—always run the diff command first to understand what needs to be migrated.
Data migration tests
When creating a migration that affects existing data (like adding columns to existing tables), also add a data migration test in nexus/tests/integration_tests/schema.rs:
- Add
before_X_0_0function to create test data in the old format. - Add
after_X_0_0function to verify the migration worked correctly. - Add the version to the
get_migration_checks()map.
This ensures old rows can be migrated smoothly in production.
Reference
Consult schema/crdb/README.adoc for more information.
