How do I get my PostgreSQL connection string?

In your database provider's dashboard, click Connect to retrieve your connection string. It typically looks like: postgresql://user:password@host:5432/dbname.

Which connection method should I use?

Select the Transaction pooler option. This ensures compatibility with stateless applications and allows dbdiagramr to detect connections properly.

What if I forgot my database password?

Regenerate your password in the Shared pooler section of your database provider's dashboard and copy-paste the new credentials into your connection string.

What is why schema diagrams go stale (and the fix)?

Schema diagrams drift out of sync within weeks. Here's why it happens, the three fixes that actually work, and how to make your diagram self-healing.

Why Schema Diagrams Go Stale (and the Fix)

The short version

Schema diagrams go stale because they're static snapshots of a moving target. A migration adds a column, someone renames a table, and suddenly your beautiful diagram is wrong. The fix: generate diagrams from the live database, not from a file.

Why it happens

Migrations don't update diagrams. You run ALTER TABLE orders ADD COLUMN shipping_cost_cents integer; and nobody thinks to update the diagram.
Diagrams live in the wrong place. If your diagram is in Confluence or Figma, it's disconnected from the code.
Nobody owns it. Diagram maintenance falls between "frontend" and "backend" and "DevOps."

The three fixes

Fix 1: Generate from the live database

Use dbdiagramr -- paste your connection string, get a diagram in seconds. Your schema is always current.

Fix 2: Generate in CI/CD

Add a schema diagram step to your CI pipeline. Run it on every push to main. The diagram is always one commit behind, but close enough.

Fix 3: One-page SCHEMA.md

Maintain a single markdown file with the schema overview. Update it in the same PR that adds or changes a column. Put it in your PR checklist.

FAQ

How often should I update my schema diagram?
Every time you add, remove, or rename a column. With dbdiagramr, it's always current.

Should I commit the diagram to git?
Yes. Commit it as an SVG or markdown file so it's versioned with your code.

What's the minimum viable schema documentation?
A one-page SCHEMA.md with table names, key columns, and relationships.