SchemaCrawler is a free, open-source database schema discovery, documentation, and analysis tool for any database with a JDBC driver. It generates ER diagrams plus text, HTML, Markdown, JSON, and CSV outputs, so teams can document schemas, automate checks, and track schema changes in version control. Beyond visualization, SchemaCrawler includes schema linting, regex-based schema search, scripting support (Python, JavaScript, Groovy, Ruby), and CI/CD-friendly workflows including GitHub Actions integration.
A startup from Boston, the United States.
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Comprehensive database schema discovery
SchemaCrawler provides detailed and thorough metadata discovery for relational databases, including tables, columns, primary keys, foreign keys, indexes, stored procedures, and more. It goes beyond what standard JDBC DatabaseMetaData provides by offering a rich, unified object model.
Free and open source
SchemaCrawler is a free, open-source tool licensed under a permissive license, making it accessible for individuals, small teams, and enterprises without licensing costs. The source code is publicly available on GitHub for review and contribution.
Multiple output formats
SchemaCrawler supports a wide variety of output formats including text, CSV, HTML, and JSON for schema reports. It also integrates with Graphviz to generate visual entity-relationship (ER) diagrams, making it versatile for documentation and analysis purposes.
Command-line and API flexibility
SchemaCrawler can be used both as a command-line tool for quick, ad-hoc schema exploration and as a Java API that can be embedded into applications. This dual-mode approach makes it useful for both interactive use and automated workflows like CI/CD pipelines.
Broad database support
SchemaCrawler supports a wide range of relational databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, SQLite, DB2, and others through JDBC. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used across heterogeneous database environments without needing database-specific tools.
SchemaCrawler combines schema documentation with developer-grade analysis in one tool: diff-friendly text output, schema lint checks, regex search across schema objects, scripting support, and multiple output formats (including Markdown, JSON, CSV, and diagrams) for any JDBC database.
Choose SchemaCrawler when you need more than a browsable report: automated schema quality checks, CI/CD integration, version-control-friendly diffs, scriptable workflows, and flexible outputs for engineering, docs, and governance use cases.
Database engineers, backend developers, DevOps teams, architects, and technical writers who need to understand, document, validate, and automate database schema workflows across environments.
SchemaCrawler started in 2000 to make database metadata easier to explore and use programmatically. It has evolved into a mature open-source project focused on practical schema intelligence: documentation, validation, search, automation, and integration into modern delivery pipelines.
Java (core implementation), JDBC (database metadata access), and a scripting engine supporting Python, JavaScript, and Ruby for customization and automation.
SchemaCrawler is widely used by enterprises, consulting teams, and public-sector organizations, but specific customer names are generally not publicly listed.
SchemaCrawler is a solid, mature open-source tool for database schema discovery, documentation, and analysis, offering strong value for teams needing to understand, document, or diff database structures without paying for commercial database documentation tools.
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