itsual Schema Registry
Overview
A schema registry stores and validates schemas (often Avro, Protobuf, or JSON Schema) so producers and consumers can evolve independently while maintaining compatibility.
When to Use
- Event-driven systems with multiple producers/consumers
- Need for enforced compatibility (backward, forward, full)
- Reducing “it works on my schema” integration bugs
Practices
- Choose a compatibility mode deliberately (backward is a common default)
- Version schemas and document changes
- Integrate schema validation into CI and runtime where appropriate
- Avoid tight coupling to a particular registry implementation in core domain logic
Principles
- Schemas are contracts — treat changes with care
- Compatibility rules should be explicit and enforced
Verification
- Incompatible schema changes are rejected automatically
- Consumers can handle the range of schemas they are expected to see