PostgreSQL zero-downtime migration
PostgreSQL schema changes, without the downtime.
pgArchiMigrator analyzes the change, automatically selects a safe strategy, and shows exactly what will happen before it touches your database. v2.0.0 adds a second mode: moving an entire database to another PostgreSQL instance.
Strategy router
Change ready for a safe route
Dry-run preview
Enabled
Operation types
12 supported
PostgreSQL
12 — 18
Apache-2.0 / Community Edition
A visible, controlled, open-source trust layer for schema changes and database moves.
Workflow
Define the change. Make risk visible.
A single schema request becomes a traceable operation that moves through preview, strategy selection, controlled execution, and verification.
Trust layer Every step is visible and traceable
01 / CONNECT
Connect
Define your PostgreSQL environment with secure connectivity and minimum-privilege checks.
02 / PREVIEW
Preview
Inspect the SQL, selected strategy, and pre-flight warnings before any database write.
03 / ROUTE
Route
Let operation type, table size, and type compatibility determine the lowest-cost safe strategy.
04 / VERIFY
Execute and verify
Follow lock signals, checkpoints, and the audit trail in one operational flow.
Automatic strategy selection
It does not use the same method for every change.
pgArchiMigrator selects the safest, lowest-cost path from three execution strategies based on the nature of the change.
Direct DDL
Direct execution for PostgreSQL metadata operations that are fast and safe.
Safe path
Expand & Backfill
Controlled, batched, and observable progress across large data sets.
Safe path
Shadow Table
A logical-replication shadow-table path for the most disruptive changes.
Safe path
See the product in action
Every change, one operational story.
From fleet-wide health to the details of a single migration, risk, progress, and verification stay visible in one focused interface.
Screen / 01
Migration fleet
Follow strategy, progress, status, and duration signals in one filterable list.
Screen / 02
End-to-end progress
Inspect every step from preflight to cleanup, with evidence for data validation and resource cleanup.
Screen / 03
Live change preview
See the selected strategy, SQL impact, and current write load before execution begins.
Supported operations
Twelve schema operations. One trust model.
From everyday DDL needs to table partitioning and major type conversions, each operation is evaluated against its own risk profile and routed through the same strategy engine.
Explore the source codeADD_COLUMNAdd a column
DROP_COLUMNDrop a column
ALTER_COLUMN_TYPEChange a column type
ADD_INDEXAdd an index
DROP_INDEXDrop an index
SET_NOT_NULLApply NOT NULL
ADD_CONSTRAINTAdd a constraint
RENAME_COLUMNRename a column
RENAME_TABLERename a table
ADD_FOREIGN_KEYAdd a foreign key
ADD_GENERATED_COLUMNAdd a generated column
PARTITION_TABLEPartition a table
New in v2.0.0
Move a whole database, not just a schema.
Database Migration is a second mode next to zero-downtime schema migration: it moves schema and data to a different host, a different cloud provider or a newer PostgreSQL version, built on PostgreSQL's own native logical replication.
Structured connections
Host, port, username, password and database as separate fields instead of a raw connection string.
Schema and table picker
Real schemas and tables listed from the source, with a read-only check against the target before anything starts.
Row-for-row validation
A job only reports itself ready after its data is validated row for row against the source.
Retry with review
Retrying a failed job shows exactly what will be reused, with an editable replication address and no password re-exposed.
Cutover stays yours: pgArchiMigrator prepares and validates the target, but repointing application traffic remains a separate, deliberate step.
Validated boundaries
Verified scope instead of “it should work.”
Every version from PostgreSQL 12 through 18 is exercised by the project CI matrix. Older versions are deliberately refused to avoid dangerous full-table rewrite behavior.
12 — 18
PostgreSQL versions validated in CI
3
Automatic execution strategies
12
Supported schema operations
Apache 2.0
Open-source license
Docker / Quick start
First run, one container.
The web dashboard opens with a first-admin setup flow on your initial visit.
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 \ -e PGARCHIMIGRATOR_DATABASE_URL="postgresql://..." \ -v pgarchimigrator-data:/data \ ghcr.io/pgarchihub/pgarchimigrator:latest \ serve --secure-cookies=true
Downloadable resources
See the decision engine at a glance.
An infographic on how the decision engine routes every schema change, plus the v2.0 quick reference cheatsheet.
Quick reference cheatsheet
Quick reference cheatsheet
Install commands, CLI commands, the operation-to-strategy table, roles and dashboard shortcuts on one page.
Download cheatsheet (PNG)
Free and open source
See your next schema change before it happens.
Review the source, try v2.0.0 with Docker or a one-line installer, and bring pgArchiMigrator into your PostgreSQL operations workflow.
Download free from GitHub