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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Database Migration Guide agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The Database Migration Guide skill is a set of instructions and code patterns that an AI agent reads when you ask it to change a database schema. It is aimed at backend developers who use Sequelize, TypeORM or Prisma and want migration files with up and down (rollback) steps written for them. After this guide you will know what the skill changes about the agent's behaviour, how to install it, how to phrase requests so it triggers, and what to check before running anything it produces.

Database Migration Guidewshobson/agents · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the ZIP. Get the database-migration ZIP from this skill's page and unzip it.
  2. 2Place the folder. Move the database-migration folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or the project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
  3. 3Or upload in the apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill instead.
  4. 4Describe the schema change. Ask in plain language, naming your ORM (Sequelize, TypeORM or Prisma) and the table and columns involved.
  5. 5Review the generated migration. Read both the up and down steps and check how data is transformed before anything runs.
  6. 6Test on a backup. Run the migration against a backed-up copy of your database using your ORM's commands, then check results.

What does the database-migration skill make the agent do?

Once installed, the agent gets guidance and code patterns for changing a database safely. The covered tasks include creating tables, adding or renaming columns, converting column types, transforming data, and writing rollback ('down') steps.

The skill includes examples for Sequelize, TypeORM and Prisma, plus staged approaches meant to avoid downtime, such as adding a new column, backfilling it, and removing the old one in later steps. It mainly shapes the code the agent writes for you. The skill itself does not run anything against a database.

How do you install the skill?

Download the ZIP from the skill's page on this site and unzip it. The skill folder contains SKILL.md and references/details.md. Place the folder in one of these locations:

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

  • Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder

How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?

You do not need a special command. The skill's description tells the agent to use it when you are migrating databases, changing schemas, performing data transformations, or implementing zero-downtime deployment strategies. Describe the change in plain language and name your ORM so the agent picks the right examples.

  • Add a status column with a default of 'active' to the users table in our Sequelize app, with a working down step.
  • Rename the name column to full_name in our TypeORM project without downtime.
  • Change the age column from string to integer in our Prisma schema and show the rollback.
  • Split the address_string column into street, city and state, with a rollback.

What do the examples look like?

The skill's examples include a Sequelize create-table migration, a TypeORM migration using a Table definition, and a Prisma model with migrate commands. Schema examples cover adding a column with a default, a three-step zero-downtime column rename, and a multi-step column type change. A transaction-based example and a checkpoint example show two rollback approaches.

The commands shown in the source for running migrations are the following. Use the ones that match your ORM.

# Sequelize npx sequelize-cli db:migrate npx sequelize-cli db:migrate:undo # TypeORM npm run typeorm migration:run npm run typeorm migration:revert # Prisma npx prisma migrate dev --name create_users npx prisma migrate deploy

What do you need before using it?

The skill's example commands need Node.js and npm, plus the Sequelize CLI, TypeORM, or Prisma depending on your project's ORM. You also need a database you control and have backed up. The skill runs no scripts and uses no network access itself.

  • Node.js and npm
  • Sequelize CLI, TypeORM, or Prisma, matching your project
  • A database you control and have backed up

What safety points should you check?

The examples modify live data, and the agent could apply them incorrectly, so review every generated migration before it runs. Some examples, such as the type-change and address-split examples, can lose data or be slow on large tables. Treat the examples as illustrative rather than guaranteed safe.

Do not run migrations directly against production without review. Test the up and down steps on a copy of your data first.

  • Read each up and down step before running it.
  • Test on a backed-up copy of the database first.
  • Be careful with type changes and data splits on large tables.
  • Check that your ORM matches the examples; patterns for other databases or ORMs may not transfer.

What tips help you get better results?

Give the agent your ORM, your database engine, and the table size if it is large. Ask for the staged approach when you need zero downtime, and ask explicitly for the down step so a rollback exists.

  • Name the ORM and database in your request.
  • Ask for a multi-step plan when the table is large or live.
  • Ask the agent to explain each step before writing code.

What people use it for

  • Adding a column with a default value to an existing users table in a Sequelize app.
  • Renaming a column in a TypeORM project using the add, backfill, switch, remove pattern.
  • Writing a Prisma migration with migrate dev to generate it and migrate deploy to apply it.
  • Drafting a transaction-wrapped data backfill that rolls back if an error occurs.
  • Planning a staged column type change on a large table, with a down step.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the database migration agent skill?

Download the ZIP from this skill's page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Is the database-migration skill free?

The skill is published under the MIT licence, which is stated on its page. The source does not mention pricing, so check the licence text for the terms.

What do I need to use it?

You need Node.js and npm for the example commands, plus the Sequelize CLI, TypeORM, or Prisma depending on your project. You should also have a database you control and have backed up.

Does the skill run migrations on my database?

No. The skill mainly shapes the code the agent writes. It runs no scripts and uses no network access itself, so you run the migration commands yourself.

Does it work with databases or ORMs other than Sequelize, TypeORM and Prisma?

The examples cover those three ORMs. Patterns for other databases or ORMs may not transfer, so review the output carefully before relying on it.

Is it safe to use on production?

Not without review. The examples modify live data, some can lose data or be slow on large tables, and the agent could apply them incorrectly. Test on a backed-up copy first.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you are a backend developer changing a schema in a Sequelize, TypeORM or Prisma app and want rollback-ready migration code drafted for you. Pick something else if you need a guaranteed-safe migration, work with an ORM or database outside the examples, or want the tool to run changes against your database for you.

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