laraib15/laravel-schema-generator

Generate Laravel migrations from a schema DSL (create, add, modify, drop columns with DB diffing).

v1.2.0 2025-12-15 10:25 UTC

Requires

• php: ^8.1
• illuminate/console: ^9.0|^10.0|^11.0|^12.0
• illuminate/database: ^9.0|^10.0|^11.0|^12.0
• illuminate/support: ^9.0|^10.0|^11.0|^12.0

Requires (Dev)

• orchestra/testbench: ^7.0|^8.0|^9.0
• phpunit/phpunit: ^9.5|^10.0

Suggests

• doctrine/dbal: Required for modify-column support (schema diffing & ->change()). Install via: composer require doctrine/dbal

MIT

• Laraib Tahir

• mysql
• postgres
• laravel
• crud generator
• migration generator
• schema generator
• schema dsl
• migration diff

README

Laravel Schema Generator is a Laravel package that generates migration files using a concise schema DSL (Domain Specific Language).
Based on the DSL and your existing database structure, it determines whether to generate:

• Create table migration
• Add columns migration
• Modify columns migration (DBAL-powered)
• Drop columns migration
• Composite indexes and unique indexes

The generator compares your DSL schema against the actual database schema, making migration generation predictable and automated.

Requirements

Component	Supported Versions
PHP	8.1+
Laravel	9, 10, 11, 12
Doctrine DBAL	Optional — Required only for modify-column support
Database	MySQL recommended for modify operations

SQLite does not support ->change(). Modify-column migrations should be executed on MySQL/PostgreSQL.

Installation

composer require laraib15/laravel-schema-generator --dev

Laravel automatically registers the service provider.

The generator command becomes available:

php artisan generate:crud

If you want modify-column (->change()) support, install DBAL in your Laravel app:

composer require doctrine/dbal

Important Notes About Modify-Column Support

Modify-column detection relies on Doctrine DBAL to inspect the actual database schema.
Because of this:

1. Migrations must be executed before DBAL can detect column types

If a migration has not yet been run, the table or column will not exist in the database.

In that case, the generator cannot detect the existing column type and will treat it as a new column, producing:

xxxx_add_columns_to_table.php

instead of:

xxxx_modify_columns_in_table.php

2. Modify operations require:

• Doctrine DBAL installed
• The table/column already existing in the database

Example:

php artisan generate:crud "orders:id:uuid:primary,name:string"
php artisan migrate

php artisan generate:crud "orders:name:text"

If you skip php artisan migrate, DBAL cannot detect existing columns.

3. SQLite cannot run modify migrations

Even with DBAL installed, SQLite does not support ->change().
Use MySQL/PostgreSQL for production modify support.

Schema DSL Overview

The DSL (Domain-Specific Language) format looks like this:

table:column:type:option1:option2=value,another_column:type:option,...

• Each column definition is separated by commas
• Each option modifies column behavior

Supported Column Types

bigIncrements, bigInteger, binary, boolean,
char, date, datetime, dateTimeTz,
decimal, double, enum, float,
foreignId, geometry, increments, integer,
json, jsonb, longText, mediumText,
morphs, uuidMorphs, smallInteger, tinyInteger,
text, string, set, timestamp, timestampTz,
time, softDeletes, timestamps,
uuid, year

Column Options

Option	Example	Meaning
nullable	name:string:nullable	Adds ->nullable()
default	status:string:default=pending	Sets a default value
length	code:string:20	Defines string length
comment	id:uuid:comment=Primary key	Adds column comment
unique	email:string:unique	Adds unique index
index	category:string:index	Adds index
unsigned	age:integer:unsigned	Unsigned integer
drop	status:string:drop	Drops a column

Foreign Keys

Define a foreign key

user_id:foreignId:constrained=users:onDelete=cascade

Generates:

$table->foreignId('user_id')
      ->constrained('users')
      ->onDelete('cascade');

Drop a foreign key

user_id:foreignId:drop

Generates:

$table->dropForeign(['user_id']);
$table->dropColumn('user_id');

Composite Indexes

Unique Index

unique:user_id|ordered_at

Index

index:category|status

Usage Examples

1. Create a New Table

php artisan generate:crud "
orders:
  id:uuid:primary,
  user_id:foreignId:constrained=users:onDelete=cascade,
  status:enum:values=pending|processing|completed:default=pending,
  amount:decimal:precision=10:scale=2,
  timestamps
"

Generates:

xxxx_create_orders_table.php

2. Add New Columns

php artisan generate:crud "orders:tracking_code:string:nullable"

Generates:

xxxx_add_columns_to_orders_table.php

3. Modify Column Type (DBAL)

php artisan generate:crud "orders:status:text"

Generates:

xxxx_modify_columns_in_orders_table.php

Contains:

$table->text('status')->change();

4. Drop Columns

php artisan generate:crud "orders:tracking_code:string:drop"

Generates:

xxxx_drop_columns_from_orders_table.php

Auto-Diff Logic

The generator compares:

< DSL schema >   <-->   < DB schema >

Then decides:

Condition	Output
Table does not exist	Create migration
Column exists in DSL but not DB	Add column migration
Column type or nullability differs	Modify migration
Column removed from DSL	Drop migration
No differences	No migration created

Testing

SQLite Tests (Default)

vendor/bin/phpunit

MySQL Integration Tests

Enable MySQL tests:

CRUD_MYSQL_TEST_ENABLED=true vendor/bin/phpunit --group=mysql

Tests cover:

• Modify-column detection
• Doctrine DBAL introspection
• Foreign key dropping
• Combined modify + add sequences

License

MIT License
https://github.com/laraib15