Application code lives in Git — with full history, branching, and diff tools. Database schemas have historically been left without equivalent version control, relying on manually numbered migration files and developer memory for context. ER Flow brings proper versioning to database schema design through a checkpoint system that makes every schema state recoverable and comparable.
A checkpoint in ER Flow is a named, timestamped snapshot of your entire schema — every table, column, index, foreign key, view, and stored procedure. Save checkpoints at natural milestones: "initial schema", "v2 auth system", "billing overhaul", "Q3 features". Each checkpoint is immutable and permanently stored with your data model, creating a complete audit trail of every significant design decision.
The real power of checkpoints comes from the diff and migration generation features. Compare any two checkpoints to see a precise list of every change made between them. Generate a migration script that transforms one schema state into another. If you need to roll back a deployment, select an earlier checkpoint, generate the reverse migration, and apply it to your database. Schema version control with ER Flow makes database evolution predictable, auditable, and reversible.
Save checkpoints at any point during schema design. Name each checkpoint with a meaningful label — sprint number, feature name, or release version. ER Flow stores the complete schema state at that moment permanently.
Select any two checkpoints and compare them side by side. ER Flow highlights every added table, modified column, dropped index, and changed foreign key — giving you a precise diff of any two points in your schema's history.
Generate a migration script between any two checkpoints — not just the most recent. Need to generate a migration from three sprints ago to the current state? Select the checkpoints and generate. Supports Laravel, Phinx, and raw SQL.
Every checkpoint is timestamped and associated with the user who created it. For compliance-heavy industries — finance, healthcare, legal — this audit trail documents every schema change and who authorized it.
Free to get started. No credit card required.