Blog
What PostgreSQL actually does when you change a schema under load: which lock each statement takes, how long it holds it, and the rewrite that avoids the outage.
- 5 min read
PostgreSQL 18 Changed NOT NULL — Update Your Migration Rules
PostgreSQL 18 introduces NOT NULL constraints that can be added NOT VALID, plus NOT ENFORCED constraints. Learn what changed, how it affects your migration safety, and how to update your tooling.
- 6 min read
Squawk vs MigrationPilot: PostgreSQL Migration Linters Compared
An honest comparison of Squawk and MigrationPilot for PostgreSQL migration linting: rules, lock analysis, auto-fix, CI integration, and when to use each tool.
- 7 min read
The 5 PostgreSQL Migration Mistakes That Cause Production Outages
Real production incidents caused by unsafe PostgreSQL migrations: missing CONCURRENTLY, table rewrites, lock cascades, and the safe patterns to prevent them.
- 8 min read
Atlas Paywalled Their Migration Linter — Here Are Your Free Alternatives
Atlas removed migrate lint from their free tier in v0.38. Here are the free, open-source PostgreSQL migration linters you can switch to today.
- 5 min read
The Complete Guide to PostgreSQL Lock Types for Schema Changes
Understand every PostgreSQL lock level from ACCESS SHARE to ACCESS EXCLUSIVE, which DDL statements acquire which locks, and how they impact your running application.
- 4 min read
How to Safely Add a Column with a Default Value in PostgreSQL
Learn when adding a column with a DEFAULT value rewrites the entire table, what changed in PostgreSQL 11, and the safe patterns for every scenario.
- 4 min read
CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY: The Complete PostgreSQL Guide
Everything you need to know about CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY in PostgreSQL: why it matters, failure modes, retry patterns, and REINDEX CONCURRENTLY.
- 3 min read
PostgreSQL Migration Best Practices for Zero-Downtime Deployments
A practical guide to running PostgreSQL schema migrations safely in production: lock_timeout, batched backfills, expand-contract, and CI integration.
- 3 min read
Which ALTER TABLE Operations Lock Your PostgreSQL Table?
A complete reference of which ALTER TABLE operations acquire ACCESS EXCLUSIVE locks, which are safe, and the workarounds for every dangerous operation.
- 4 min read
How to Add Database Migration Checks to Your CI/CD Pipeline
Set up automated database migration linting in GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and other CI/CD systems to catch dangerous schema changes before they reach production.
- 3 min read
Adding NOT NULL Constraints to Existing PostgreSQL Columns Safely
The CHECK constraint NOT VALID + VALIDATE pattern for adding NOT NULL without locking your table. Includes version-specific advice for PG 11 and below vs PG 12+.
- 4 min read
Flyway vs Liquibase for PostgreSQL: An Honest Comparison
A practical comparison of Flyway and Liquibase for PostgreSQL migrations: features, syntax, rollbacks, team workflows, and where each tool falls short.