Database Schema Review

Database Schema Review

Core Workflow

1. Identify the domain model, queries, write patterns, data lifecycle, and database engine assumptions.
2. Review tables, columns, types, relationships, constraints, indexes, uniqueness, nullability, and migration path.
3. Check data integrity, tenant/user boundaries, privacy, auditability, and deletion or retention needs.
4. Compare schema design against API and product access patterns.
5. Flag migration, backfill, locking, rollback, and performance risks.
6. Recommend concrete schema changes and validation checks.

Safety Rules

• Do not recommend destructive migrations without backup, rollback, and reviewer approval.
• Do not invent production data volume, query patterns, or compliance requirements.
• Escalate schemas involving payments, auth, personal data, regulated data, or multi-tenant isolation.

Deliverable Shape

For schema reviews, provide:

• Schema scope and assumptions
• Entity and relationship review
• Constraints and index review
• Query and access-pattern fit
• Migration and rollback risks
• Data privacy and retention notes
• Recommended changes
• Validation checks

References

• Read references/database-schema-review-checklist.md when reviewing schema design or migrations.