Schema Evolution
Use when reasoning about how a database schema changes over time without breaking deployed application code: the expand/contract pattern (Ambler & Sadalage), the zero-downtime change rules, the backwards-and-forwards compatibility envelope (deploy ordering and rollback discipline), the catalog of schema changes (add column, drop column, rename, type change, add constraint, add index) and the safe procedure for each, the dual-write and dual-read transitions that make non-trivial changes safe in production, and the relationship between schema evolution as a design discipline and database-migration mechanics as its tooling. Do NOT use for the mechanical execution of one migration (use database-migration), schema design from scratch (use data-modeling), query tuning (use query-optimization), or distributed-data partitioning (use sharding-strategy).
Security AStatic scan found no risk patternsHow grading works ›
What this skill does
Schema Evolution is a community-contributed Claude Code skill in the general-misc sub-category. It ships as a SKILL.md file that Claude Code auto-discovers under ~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution/ and loads when your prompt matches the skill's trigger.
When to invoke it: Use when reasoning about how a database schema changes over time without breaking deployed application code: the expand/contract pattern (Ambler & Sadalage), the zero-downtime change rules, the backwards-and-forwards compatibility envelope (deploy ordering and rollback discipline), the catalog of schema changes (add column, drop column, rename, type change, add constraint, add index) and the safe procedure for each, the dual-write and dual-read transitions that make non-trivial changes safe in production, and the relationship between schema evolution as a design discipline and database-migration mechanics as its tooling. Do NOT use for the mechanical execution of one migration (use database-migration), schema design from scratch (use data-modeling), query tuning (use query-optimization), or distributed-data partitioning (use sharding-strategy).
Who uses this skill
The Schema Evolution Claude Code skill is built for Claude Code users and developers across all disciplines looking for general-purpose AI assistance. It's part of ClaudSkills (also referred to as Claude Skills or Claude Code Skills) — the open community-curated registry of 196,000+ SKILL.md files for Anthropic's Claude Code agent and the wider Claude ecosystem (Claude API, Claude Agent SDK).
How to install
Free
Manual install (2 steps)
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution
curl -L https://claudskills.com/skills/schema-evolution/SKILL.md \
-o ~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution/SKILL.md
Or just download SKILL.md directly and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution/. Claude Code auto-discovers it on next session.
Skills live at ~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution/SKILL.md on macOS/Linux, or %USERPROFILE%\.claude\skills\schema-evolution\SKILL.md on Windows. See the full install guide for step-by-step instructions.
Telegram
📱 Install from your phone or desktop Telegram
Open @claudskills_bot on Telegram, tap Open Desktop App, and the desktop app installs this skill for you. Or share the bot link with a colleague — they get the same one-tap install. Learn more →
Pro
One-click install via the desktop app
The ClaudSkills desktop app installs any skill directly into ~/.claude/skills/ with one click — no terminal required. Pro starts at $9/mo or $149 lifetime.
Pro
For the full experience including quality scoring and one-click install features for each skill — upgrade to Pro.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the Schema Evolution Claude Code skill?
Install via the ClaudSkills desktop app (one click) or copy
SKILL.md from the source repository to
~/.claude/skills/schema-evolution/SKILL.md and restart Claude Code. Both flows are detailed at
claudskills.com/install/.
What does the Schema Evolution skill do?
Use when reasoning about how a database schema changes over time without breaking deployed application code: the expand/contract pattern (Ambler & Sadalage), the zero-downtime change rules, the backwards-and-forwards compatibility envelope (deploy ordering and rollback discipline), the catalog of schema changes (add column, drop column, rename, type change, add constraint, add index) and the safe procedure for each, the dual-write and dual-read transitions that make non-trivial changes safe in production, and the relationship between schema evolution as a design discipline and database-migration mechanics as its tooling. Do NOT use for the mechanical execution of one migration (use database-migration), schema design from scratch (use data-modeling), query tuning (use query-optimization), or distributed-data partitioning (use sharding-strategy).
Is this skill free to install?
Yes. ClaudSkills is an open registry — every skill keeps its source repository's license, and manual install via copy is free. ClaudSkills Pro ($9/mo, $79/yr, or $149 one-time) adds one-click install via the desktop app and a multi-signal Quality Score.
When should I use the Schema Evolution skill?
Use Schema Evolution when your Claude Code task falls under the General category — specifically in the general misc area. Claude Code auto-discovers installed skills and invokes the right one based on the task description, so you can also ask Claude directly (e.g. "use Schema Evolution" or describe the task and let Claude pick). Browse related skills at
/category/general/.
What is a Claude Code skill and how does the Schema Evolution skill fit in?
A Claude Code skill is a
SKILL.md file that lives under
~/.claude/skills/<name>/ and tells the Claude Code CLI agent how to perform a specific task (instructions, prompts, allowed tools). Skills are auto-discovered at session start. Schema Evolution is one of 67,000+ skills indexed in the open ClaudSkills catalog, classified under the General category. Learn more at
/learn/what-is-a-claude-skill/.
Attribution & license
Cite this skill
If you reference this skill in a blog post, paper, or documentation, you can cite it as:
APA
jacob-balslev. (2026). Schema Evolution [Claude Code skill]. ClaudSkills. https://claudskills.com/skills/schema-evolution/
BibTeX
@misc{schema-evolution-2026,
author = {jacob-balslev},
title = {Schema Evolution [Claude Code skill]},
year = {2026},
publisher = {ClaudSkills},
url = {https://claudskills.com/skills/schema-evolution/}
}Embed this skill
Promote, attribute, or link this skill from your own README, blog post, or documentation. All three snippets are free to use — no sign-up, no API key. More distribution surfaces →
Badge
[](https://claudskills.com/skills/schema-evolution/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=skill_badge)
<script>
<script src="https://claudskills.com/embed/schema-evolution.js" async></script>
<iframe>
<iframe src="https://claudskills.com/embed/schema-evolution.html" width="100%" height="160" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="ClaudSkills: Schema Evolution"></iframe>
Security scan
Grade A · scanned 2026-09-28 — free static scan against the OWASP Agentic Skills Top 10.
No risk patterns were found in any of the ten OWASP-aligned categories. How grading works ›
- ✓ Prompt injection
- ✓ Data exfiltration
- ✓ Supply chain
- ✓ Reverse shell
- ✓ Credentials
- ✓ Execution
- ✓ Filesystem
- ✓ Persistence
- ✓ Obfuscation
- ✓ Network
Show this grade on your repo (click to copy):
[](https://claudskills.com/skills/schema-evolution/#security)
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