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ApexSQL Doc VS Flyway

Compare ApexSQL Doc VS Flyway and see what are their differences

ApexSQL Doc logo ApexSQL Doc

ApexSQL Doc creates database documentation in a variety of formats.

Flyway logo Flyway

Flyway is a database migration tool.
  • ApexSQL Doc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24
  • Flyway Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02

ApexSQL Doc features and specs

  • Comprehensive Documentation
    ApexSQL Doc offers a robust set of features for documenting SQL Server databases, integrating detailed metadata and annotated information, which enhances understanding and presentation of database structures.
  • Automation Capabilities
    The tool can automate documentation processes via the command line interface and schedule document generation tasks, thus saving time and minimizing manual intervention.
  • Multiple Output Formats
    ApexSQL Doc supports various output formats including HTML, PDF, DOC, DOCX, and CHM, providing flexibility in how documents are shared and presented.
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize documentation details, configure templates, and select specific database objects to document, allowing for tailored documentation suited to particular needs.
  • Integration with SQL Server
    The tool seamlessly integrates with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), enhancing productivity by allowing users to generate documentation directly from within the SSMS environment.

Possible disadvantages of ApexSQL Doc

  • Cost
    ApexSQL Doc is a premium software with a cost that might be prohibitive for small enterprises or individual developers looking for budget-friendly solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, new users might face a steep learning curve to effectively utilize all functionalities of the tool.
  • System Requirements
    The tool may have specific system requirements that could necessitate infrastructure upgrades, potentially adding to overall costs for setup and operation.
  • Limited Support for Non-SQL Server Databases
    ApexSQL Doc primarily caters to SQL Server environments, which may limit its utility for organizations using multiple types of database systems.
  • User Interface
    Some users may find the interface to be less intuitive compared to other SQL documentation tools, potentially affecting usability and efficiency.

Flyway features and specs

  • Database Versioning
    Flyway provides robust version control for your database schemas, which ensures that all changes are tracked and can be rolled back if necessary.
  • Ease of Use
    Easy to set up and use, Flyway supports several databases and integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, making it a versatile tool.
  • Script-based Migrations
    Allows for migration scripts to be written in SQL or Java, offering flexibility in how schema changes are implemented.
  • Idempotence
    Ensures that migration scripts are idempotent, meaning that they can be applied multiple times without causing conflicts or errors, which is vital for predictable deployments.
  • Tool Integration
    Integrates well with various build tools and frameworks like Maven, Gradle, and Spring Boot, enhancing its utility across different environments.
  • Community and Support
    Large and active community along with comprehensive documentation and commercial support options, helping users resolve issues efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Flyway

  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve understanding all of its features, configurations, and best practices.
  • Limited Undo Functionality
    Flyway doesn't natively support down migrations (rollbacks); this has to be implemented manually, increasing the workload on developers.
  • Initial Setup Overhead
    Requires some initial setup and configuration which might be cumbersome for small projects or one-off databases.
  • No Schema Diffing
    Unlike some other tools, Flyway does not natively support schema diffing (the ability to generate change scripts from schema differences), so developers need to write every change explicitly.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies for Flyway scripts can become complex, particularly in larger projects, as it requires careful coordination across development teams.
  • License Cost
    While Flyway offers a free version, some advanced features are locked behind a paid version, which could be a constraint for some organizations.

Analysis of Flyway

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Flyway is a robust and efficient tool for database version control and migrations, praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in managing database changes across different environments.

Why this product is good

  • Flyway (flywaydb.org) is considered good because it simplifies the process of managing database migrations by providing a structured and version-controlled way to handle schema changes. It supports a wide range of databases and offers both command-line and API access, making it versatile for different development workflows. Additionally, Flyway's migration scripts are executed in a consistent manner, ensuring database integrity and reducing the risk of errors during deployments.

Recommended for

    Flyway is recommended for developers and teams looking for a straightforward solution to manage database migrations, especially in agile and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) environments. It is particularly useful for teams that need to ensure database consistency across different stages of development and production.

ApexSQL Doc videos

An introduction to ApexSQL Doc

More videos:

  • Review - ApexSQL Doc - Documenting graphical dependencies and data model diagrams

Flyway videos

Flyway Review: Echo XLT Duck Call

More videos:

  • Review - Flyway Review: Echo Timber Duck Call
  • Review - Beer Review # 3455 Flyway Brewing Early Bird IPA

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ApexSQL Doc and Flyway)
Databases
39 39%
61% 61
MySQL Tools
16 16%
84% 84
Database Management
100 100%
0% 0
Online Services
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Flyway seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 61 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ApexSQL Doc mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ApexSQL Doc yet. Tracking of ApexSQL Doc recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Flyway mentions (61)

  • Best Database Migration Tools for Golang
    Flyway is a Java-based migration tool that’s widely used in enterprise settings. While not Go-native, you can integrate it into Go projects using its CLI or by calling its Java library. Flyway is great for teams needing robust versioning and audit-ready migration history. - Source: dev.to / 11 days ago
  • Run Flyway DB migrations with AWS Lambda and RDS - Part 1
    Usually there is a need to run SQL database updates: update table columns, add new rows, create a new schema etc. Often developer teams are using Flyway It is an open-source database SQL deployment tool. In Flyway, all DDL and DML changes to the database are called migrations. Migrations can be versioned or repeatable. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • A Journey Towards A Scalable Multi-Tenant Application
    Our client's engineering team recommended Flyway and successfully used it to manage their migrations. We chose to adopt Flyway due to its simplicity, speed, reliability, and successful implementation by our client's engineering team. Their existing codebase and experiences allowed us to transition smoothly to Flyway. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Let's write a simple microservice in Clojure
    The session logs show that the application loads configurations and establishes a connection with a PostgreSQL database. This involves initializing a HikariCP connection pool and Flyway for database migrations. The logs confirm that the database schema validation and migration checks were successful. The startup of the Jetty HTTP server follows, and the server becomes operational and ready to accept requests on... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What tool(s) do you use to code review and deploy SQL scripts?
    Also RedGate, but Flyway has some reasons to recommend it over RedGate Deploy depending on your DBAs/workflows: https://flywaydb.org/ (Though I don't think it is "complete" or "perfect", either.) EF Migrations are in a really good place now if you like/don't mind C# as a language (and you can easily embed SQL inside the C#, too, but there are benefits to being able to also run high level C# code). With today's... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ApexSQL Doc and Flyway, you can also consider the following products

dbForge SQL Complete - Try Intellisense functionality and Improved SQL Formatter in SQL Server Management Studio and Visual Studio using SQL Complete!

Liquibase - Database schema change management and release automation solution.

DbSchema - DbSchema - Visual Database Design & Management Tool

Slick - A jquery plugin for creating slideshows and carousels into your webpage.

SQL Doc by Red Gate - Document your databases automatically.

Sequel Pro - MySQL database management for Mac OS X