Database design & Modeling tools — work once and be praised twice
In a previous article, I talked about data modeling and its importance in the data management process (read it here: link).
The process of creating a new database can be time-consuming…gather all the necessary details about the business needs, the technologies you’ll be working with, and so on. We all know that creating the database structure directly in an SQL environment is not a good idea as it might involve extra work time and also an extra cost. There are rare cases when the database structure is perfect on the first try.
So, to avoid these things becoming a pain, I recommend using the tools I’m going to talk about in this article. I personally found them especially helpful when I had to sketch out a structure for a new database.
Let’s start our adventure and become buddies with these 2 data modeling tools before finding yourself in the situation below:
My fav tools are:
->> an open-source technology stack, developed by JGraph Ltd and draw.io AG companies, for building diagramming applications, and it’s the world’s most widely used browser-based end-user diagramming software.
Pros 👍:
- a web-based app, so there’s no need for any additional plugins
- effortlessly to use, it’s more based on drag-and-drop actions
- allow collaboration
- can download the diagram in various formats, from XML to Bitmap Image
- variety of templates and shapes to choose from
- you can create chic diagrams by using different shapes, colors shades, and types of waypoints
- desktop version available
- it can be used as a flowchart generator, network diagram software, online UML communication diagram for database schema generation, online BPMN construction, diagrams generation, and more
Cons 👎:
- one of the biggest drawbacks, in my view, is that we can’t import our structure directly into our SQL environment
- sometimes it’s hard to control your shapes (in my situation I had some problems with the height of the text shape when I tried to add them to a table)
- it can get a little challenging to read (sometimes I had some problems with the relationships between my tables because they overlapped some tables so I had to organize them manually)
- it is more suitable for basic designs
- you have to save your work to Google Drive before sharing
->> it’s a free, simple tool to draw ER diagrams by just writing code.
Designed especially for developers and data analysts.
Pros 👍:
- based on writing code — i find this feature pretty cool as I keep typing the er diagram magically appears in the workspace
- you have your space where you can store your diagrams
- import the diagram in different programs (SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, PDF, and PNG)
- you can import diagrams from SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and also Rails
- relationships can be emphasized through the highlight option
- auto-arrange tables feature (i find it a good feature especially when you work with multiple tables)
- it supports column notes — to help you make the diagram more descriptive
- allows you to use table aliases
- you can use all types of constraints, except check constraint
Cons 👎:
- you have to get used to DML (Database Markup Language)
- doesn’t allow you to add CHECK constraint
- up to 10 diagrams in the free version
- to use some features such as version history, real-time collaboration, and create some fancy table headers, you need to upgrade to a Pro Plan
Conclusion
There are certainly a lot of online apps that can help you create a database prototype, but here i have briefly introduced my fav ones.
Don’t forget to experiment with the other tools, choose the right one for you, and fall in love with it (but try to keep this relationship open, you might have to use others 😉)
P.S: for more details about the ones I talked about in this article you’ll find them here and here.
If you liked my articles, let’s spend our coffee break together here 😉. Thank you for your support!
Have fun and stay tuned 😸
