State-based vs migration-based version control

Last modified: July 12, 2024

Managing database changes effectively is crucial for any database development project. There are two main approaches to database version control:

• State-based version control
• Migration-based version control

Thus, choosing the right approach significantly impacts the efficiency and accuracy of the development and deployment processes.

State-based version control

The state-based approach involves storing the desired final version of the entire database schema in the code repository and generating all database objects as state-based scripts in separate SQL files. When developers make changes to the database schema, they deploy the database locally and generate scripts to synchronize the current state of the database with the desired one using a third-party compare tool. The scripts can then be uploaded to the version control system to ensure that all team members have access to the latest version of the database schema.

Migration-based version control

On the other hand, the migration-based approach stores the migration scripts in the repository. The scripts include a collection of DDL statements (CREATE/ALTER/DROP), which can be used to transfer the current database schema and data from one version to another. By executing the migration scripts, developers can make changes to the database schema and data in a controlled and repeatable way. Each migration script represents a specific version of the database, and as new migrations are added to the repository, the database can be updated to the latest version by running all applicable scripts in sequence.

While both approaches have their benefits and drawbacks, dbForge Source Control favors the state-based approach for database development and deployment. This approach allows developers to easily compare and synchronize the database schema with the desired version, ensuring that all changes are stored accurately and efficiently.

For more information about the benefits and drawbacks of both the state-based and migration-based approaches to database version control, see Database Version Control — State-based or Migration-based.

You can also learn about the differences between distributed and centralized version control systems in the article What is the Difference Between Distributed and Centralized Version Control Systems.