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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Databases
  4. Database Tools
  5. Flyway vs Liquibase

Flyway vs Liquibase

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Liquibase
Liquibase
Stacks638
Followers648
Votes70
GitHub Stars5.3K
Forks1.9K
Flyway
Flyway
Stacks304
Followers563
Votes33
GitHub Stars9.2K
Forks1.6K

Flyway vs Liquibase: What are the differences?

  1. 1. Basic Difference: Flyway is a lightweight database migration tool that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It uses a scripting-based approach, where migration scripts are written in SQL and organized in a specific directory. Liquibase, on the other hand, is a more feature-rich database migration tool that allows migrations to be defined in XML, JSON, YAML, or SQL formats. It provides a wide range of options and flexibility for managing database changes.

  2. 2. Architecture: Flyway follows a versioned migration approach, where each migration script is associated with a version number and applied in order. It allows for easy tracking and management of database changes. On the other hand, Liquibase uses a changeset-based approach, where each changeset represents a single change to the database. It provides more granular control over the order of execution and allows for conditional changesets.

  3. 3. Language Support: Flyway supports only SQL-based migration scripts. It allows for the execution of raw SQL statements and stored procedures. Liquibase, on the other hand, supports multiple languages and frameworks, including SQL, XML, JSON, YAML, and Groovy. It provides a higher level of abstraction and allows for easier management of complex database changes.

  4. 4. Integration: Flyway integrates seamlessly with various build tools and frameworks, such as Maven, Gradle, and Spring Boot. It provides plugins and extensions for easy integration into the development workflow. Liquibase also offers integration with popular build tools and frameworks, including Ant, Maven, and Gradle. It provides custom annotations and APIs for integration with Java applications.

  5. 5. Database Support: Flyway supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and more. It provides specific features and dialects for different databases. Liquibase also supports various databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and more. It offers a database-agnostic approach and provides a consistent set of features across different databases.

  6. 6. Community and Support: Flyway has a large and active community of users and developers. It provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums for getting help and support. Liquibase also has a strong community and offers comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and forums for support. Both tools have active development and regular updates.

In Summary, Flyway and Liquibase are database migration tools that have some key differences in terms of simplicity, architecture, language support, integration options, database support, and community support.

Why do developers choose Liquibase vs Flyway?

  • Flyway is typically used by developers who want complete control over their SQL; it’s designed to do that one thing, and to do it well.
  • On the other hand Liquibase is often cited as being a great database tool that supports many databases.

What are some alternatives to Liquibase and Flyway?

  • Sequel Pro - MySQL database management for Mac OS X
  • PostGIS - Open source spatial database

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Detailed Comparison

Liquibase
Liquibase
Flyway
Flyway

Liquibase is th leading open-source tool for database schema change management. Liquibase helps teams track, version, and deploy database schema and logic changes so they can automate their database code process with their app code process.

It lets you regain control of your database migrations with pleasure and plain sql. Solves only one problem and solves it well. It migrates your database, so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Supports code branching and merging;Supports multiple developers;Supports multiple database types;Supports XML, YAML, JSON and SQL formats;Supports context-dependent logic;Cluster-safe database upgrades;Generate Database change documentation;Rollbacks;Generate Database "diff's";Run through your build process, embedded in your application or on demand;Automatically generate SQL scripts for DBA code review;Does not require a live database connection;Stored logic
Supported databases: Oracle, SQL Server, SQL Azure, DB2, DB2 z/OS, MySQL, MariaDB, Google Cloud SQL, PostgreSQL, Redshift, Vertica, H2, Hsql, Derby, SQLite;Supported build tools: Maven, Gradle, Ant and SBT;Works on: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Java and Android
Statistics
GitHub Stars
5.3K
GitHub Stars
9.2K
GitHub Forks
1.9K
GitHub Forks
1.6K
Stacks
638
Stacks
304
Followers
648
Followers
563
Votes
70
Votes
33
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 18
    Great database tool
  • 18
    Many DBs supported
  • 12
    Easy setup
  • 8
    Database independent migration scripts
  • 5
    Database version controller
Cons
  • 5
    No vendor specifics in XML format - needs workarounds
  • 5
    Documentation is disorganized
Pros
  • 13
    Superb tool, easy to configure and use
  • 9
    Very easy to config, great support on plain sql scripts
  • 6
    Is fantastic and easy to install even with complex DB
  • 4
    Simple and intuitive
  • 1
    Easy tool to implement incremental migration
Cons
  • 3
    "Undo Migrations" requires pro version, very expensive
Integrations
Amazon RDS for MariaDB
Amazon RDS for MariaDB
Travis CI
Travis CI
SAP HANA
SAP HANA
Oracle
Oracle
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
Sybase
Sybase
jFrog
jFrog
GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions
Firebird
Firebird
IBM DB2
IBM DB2
Windows
Windows
Java
Java
Gradle
Gradle
Apache Maven
Apache Maven
Docker
Docker

What are some alternatives to Liquibase, Flyway?

dbForge Studio for MySQL

dbForge Studio for MySQL

It is the universal MySQL and MariaDB client for database management, administration and development. With the help of this intelligent MySQL client the work with data and code has become easier and more convenient. This tool provides utilities to compare, synchronize, and backup MySQL databases with scheduling, and gives possibility to analyze and report MySQL tables data.

dbForge Studio for Oracle

dbForge Studio for Oracle

It is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) which helps Oracle SQL developers to increase PL/SQL coding speed, provides versatile data editing tools for managing in-database and external data.

dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL

dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL

It is a GUI tool for database development and management. The IDE for PostgreSQL allows users to create, develop, and execute queries, edit and adjust the code to their requirements in a convenient and user-friendly interface.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

It is a powerful IDE for SQL Server management, administration, development, data reporting and analysis. The tool will help SQL developers to manage databases, version-control database changes in popular source control systems, speed up routine tasks, as well, as to make complex database changes.

Sequel Pro

Sequel Pro

Sequel Pro is a fast, easy-to-use Mac database management application for working with MySQL databases.

DBeaver

DBeaver

It is a free multi-platform database tool for developers, SQL programmers, database administrators and analysts. Supports all popular databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, Teradata, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, etc.

dbForge SQL Complete

dbForge SQL Complete

It is an IntelliSense add-in for SQL Server Management Studio, designed to provide the fastest T-SQL query typing ever possible.

Knex.js

Knex.js

Knex.js is a "batteries included" SQL query builder for Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite3, and Oracle designed to be flexible, portable, and fun to use. It features both traditional node style callbacks as well as a promise interface for cleaner async flow control, a stream interface, full featured query and schema builders, transaction support (with savepoints), connection pooling and standardized responses between different query clients and dialects.

PostGIS

PostGIS

PostGIS is a spatial database extender for PostgreSQL object-relational database. It adds support for geographic objects allowing location queries to be run in SQL.

MySQL WorkBench

MySQL WorkBench

It enables a DBA, developer, or data architect to visually design, model, generate, and manage databases. It includes everything a data modeler needs for creating complex ER models, forward and reverse engineering, and also delivers key features for performing difficult change management and documentation tasks that normally require much time and effort.

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