DBEvolveLib

DBEvolve is a lightweight, deterministic database migration library for .NET that automates database creation, schema evolution, and version tracking using versioned SQL scripts.

Features

• Automatic database creation - Creates the database if it doesn't exist

• Version-based migration execution - Executes SQL scripts in a controlled, versioned order

• Persistent schema version tracking - Tracks applied migrations in a version history table. The name of the version history table can be changed.

• Idempotent upgrades - Only new scripts are applied; previously run scripts are skipped

• Script integrity validation - Validates that applied scripts haven't been modified using SHA-256 hashes

• Simple, script-first migration model - Full control over database changes using explicit SQL scripts

• Designed for CI/CD - Perfect for automated deployments

Supported Databases

• SQL Server (Supported by this library)
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL

Installation

Install the NuGet package:

dotnet add package SByteStream.DBEvolve.SqlServer

Quick Start

using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging; using SByteStream.DBEvolve; // Create a logger (using any ILogger implementation) ILogger logger = LoggerFactory.Create(builder => builder.AddConsole()) .CreateLogger("DBEvolve"); // Define your connection string string connectionString = "Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=MyDatabase;Integrated Security=true;"; // Define the directory containing your SQL scripts string scriptsDirectory = @"C:\MyProject\DbScripts"; // Create and run the evolver var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); evolver.Evolve(logger, connectionString, scriptsDirectory);

SQL Script Naming Convention

DBEvolve uses a strict naming convention for SQL script files to determine the execution order and version:

Format

V<MajorVersion>_<MinorVersion>__<Description>.sql

Rules

1. Must start with 'V' (uppercase)
2. Major and Minor versions are separated by an underscore (_)
3. Double underscore (__) separates the version from the description
4. Description can be any meaningful text (e.g., initial_schema, add_users_table)
5. File extension must be .sql

Examples

V01_00__initial_schema.sql -> Version 100 V01_01__add_users_table.sql -> Version 101 V01_02__create_indexes.sql -> Version 102 V02_00__add_orders_module.sql -> Version 200 V02_01__orders_stored_procs.sql -> Version 201

Version Calculation

The numeric version is calculated as: (MajorVersion × 100) + MinorVersion

• V01_00 = 1 × 100 + 0 = 100
• V01_01 = 1 × 100 + 1 = 101
• V02_00 = 2 × 100 + 0 = 200

Version History Table

DBEvolve automatically creates and manages a version history table to track applied migrations.

Default Table Name

__Version_History__

Schema

CREATE TABLE [Version_History] ( VersionNumber INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY, Filename NVARCHAR(512) NOT NULL, FileHash VARBINARY(32) NOT NULL, EntryDate DATETIME CONSTRAINT [DF____Version_History____EntryDate] DEFAULT (GETUTCDATE()) )

Columns

• VersionNumber: The calculated version number (e.g., 100, 101, 102)
• Filename: Full path of the applied script file
• FileHash: SHA-256 hash of the script file for integrity checking
• EntryDate: UTC timestamp when the script was applied

Custom Table Name

You can specify a custom version history table name:

var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); evolver.Evolve(logger, connectionString, scriptsDirectory, versionTableName: "MyCustomVersionTable");

How Migrations Work

Process Flow

1. Database Creation: If the database doesn't exist, it is created automatically
2. Version History Table: The version history table is created if it doesn't exist
3. Script Validation: All previously applied scripts are validated:
   • Checks that script files still exist
   • Verifies file hashes match (no modifications)
4. Current Version Detection: Queries the version history table to determine the current database version
5. Script Execution: Runs all scripts with versions greater than the current version in order
   • All statements in a script are executed within a transation.
   • In case of an error while executing a script, the transaction for that script is rolled back and the version is not modified.
   • It is possible to turn off transaction per script by placing the comment '-- DBEVOLVE: NO_TRANSACTION' in the first line of the script.
6. Version Recording: Records each successfully executed script in the version history table

Migration Example

Given these scripts in your directory: V01_00__initial_schema.sql V01_01__add_users.sql V01_02__add_orders.sql

First Run (Empty Database):

• Current version: 0
• Executes: V01_00, V01_01, V01_02
• New version: 102

Second Run (Add New Script): V01_00__initial_schema.sql V01_01__add_users.sql V01_02__add_orders.sql V01_03__add_indexes.sql <- New script

• Current version: 102
• Executes: V01_03 only
• New version: 103

Targeting Specific Versions

You can upgrade to a specific version instead of the latest:

var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); // Upgrade only up to version 101 evolver.Evolve(logger, connectionString, scriptsDirectory, maxVersion: 101);

Script Integrity

DBEvolve protects against accidental script modifications by:

1. Hashing: Computing a SHA-256 hash when a script is applied
2. Validation: Checking hashes on subsequent runs
3. Failing Fast: Throwing an exception if a previously applied script has been modified

Important

⚠️ Never modify a script that has already been applied to any environment. Always create a new script with a higher version number for schema changes.

Usage Examples

Basic Usage

using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging; using SByteStream.DBEvolve; var logger = LoggerFactory.Create(builder => builder.AddConsole()) .CreateLogger("DBEvolve"); var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); evolver.Evolve(logger: logger, connectionString: "Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=MyDb;Integrated Security=true;", scriptsDirectory: @".\DbScripts" );

With Custom Version Table

var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); evolver.Evolve( logger: logger, connectionString: connectionString, scriptsDirectory: scriptsDirectory, versionTableName: "MyApp_VersionHistory" );

Upgrade to Specific Version

var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); // Upgrade only to version 105 evolver.Evolve( logger: logger, connectionString: connectionString, scriptsDirectory: scriptsDirectory, maxVersion: 105 );

Specify DBEvolve's command timeout

var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); // Upgrade only to version 105 evolver.Evolve( logger: logger, connectionString: connectionString, scriptsDirectory: scriptsDirectory, commandTimeoutSec: 60 );

Complete Example with Error Handling

using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging; using SByteStream.DBEvolve; class Program { static void Main() { var loggerFactory = LoggerFactory.Create(builder => { builder.AddConsole(); builder.SetMinimumLevel(LogLevel.Information); }); var logger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<Program>(); try { var evolver = new SqlServerDBEvolver(); evolver.Evolve( logger: logger, connectionString: "Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=MyAppDb;Integrated Security=true;", scriptsDirectory: @"C:\MyProject\DbScripts" ); logger.LogInformation("Database migration completed successfully!"); } catch (DBEvolveException ex) { logger.LogError(ex, "Database migration failed: {Message}", ex.Message); Environment.Exit(1); } } }

What happens if a script has an error?

All SQL statements of a script block are executed within a transaction. In case a statement generates an error, the transaction is rolled back and no entry is made for the script in the version table.

SQL Script Best Practices

Use GO Statements

For SQL Server, use GO to separate batches in your scripts:

CREATE TABLE Users ( Id INT PRIMARY KEY, Name NVARCHAR(100) ); GO CREATE INDEX IX_Users_Name ON Users(Name); GO

One Migration Per Script

Keep scripts focused on a single logical change:

• ✅ V01_05__add_users_table.sql
• ✅ V01_06__add_orders_table.sql
• ❌ V01_05__add_all_tables.sql (too broad)

Use Descriptive Names

Make script descriptions meaningful:

• ✅ V02_03__add_email_column_to_users.sql
• ❌ V02_03__update.sql

Never Modify Applied Scripts

Once a script has been applied to any environment:

• ✅ Create a new script with a higher version
• ❌ Modify the existing script (will fail hash validation)

Target Framework

• .NET Standard 2.0 (compatible with .NET Framework 4.6.1+, .NET Core 2.0+, .NET 5+, .NET 6+, .NET 8+)

Dependencies

• Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions (>= 6.0.4)
• System.Data.SqlClient (>= 4.9.0)

License

Copyright (C) 2026, Siddharth R Barman

Attributions

Data migration icons created by Ida Desi Mariana - Flaticon

Licensing

This project is source-available under the SByteStream No-Modification License.

Support

For issues, questions, or contributions, please visit the project repository.

You can also contact me at sbytestream@outlook.com.