Schema Evolution Governance
Trigger Boundary
- •Use when schema changes affect multiple services or historical data compatibility.
- •Do not use for one-off query tuning; use
db-query-optimization. - •Do not use for API consumer contract tests only; use
api-contract-testing.
Goal
Evolve schemas safely without breaking data integrity or dependent systems.
Inputs
- •Current schema and migration history
- •Dependent services, jobs, and consumer contracts
- •Data volume, retention, and rollback constraints
Outputs
- •Compatibility-aware schema change plan
- •Migration sequence with validation checkpoints
- •Rollback and recovery readiness criteria
Workflow
- •Classify change type and compatibility impact.
- •Define phased migration strategy for operated systems.
- •Validate read/write compatibility across dependent systems.
- •Define rollback trigger, data recovery, and cutover criteria.
- •Publish execution and verification checklist.
Quality Gates
- •Compatibility impact is explicitly documented.
- •Migration and rollback paths are both testable.
- •Data integrity checks pass before and after cutover.
- •Ownership exists for every migration phase.
Failure Handling
- •Stop when backward/forward compatibility is unverified.
- •Escalate when rollback path is missing for operated systems.