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Database design tools
List of tools that allow for the design of a database.
Database design is a set of activities aimed at improving the development, implementation, and maintenance of an enterprise data management system. Its main goal is to reflect the outline of the database system into real models: physical and logical. Database designers determine what data is to be stored inside the database, and how objects are to be related to each other.
SQLite Maestro
SQLite Maestro is the premier SQLite admin tool for database management, control, and development. Its key features include support for all SQLite versions 2.8 and 3.x.y, easy database object management, database designer, comfortable access to DB2 security features, data management (editing, grouping, sorting, and filtering abilities), handy SQL editor, and many more.
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Firebird Maestro
Firebird Maestro is the premier Firebird tool for database management, control, and development. It provides a rich set of GUI tools for anyone who uses Firebird. Its key features include support for all Firebird versions up to 4.0, easy database object management, database designer, comfortable access to MySQL security features, data management and data analysis tools, many more.
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Anchor Modeling
Anchor Modeling is an agile database modeling technique suited for information that changes over time both in structure and content. It provides a graphical notation used for conceptual modeling similar to that of entity-relationship modeling, with extensions for working with temporal data.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Cloud |
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RISE
RISE is a software suite for model driven information system development, packed with features and functions needed to build your information model and to turn it into a complete information management solution. You can generate your entire information solution including database, web services, and documentation.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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Oracle JDeveloper
Oracle JDeveloper is a free integrated development environment that simplifies the development of Java-based applications addressing every step of the application lifecycle. Through this tool you can perform offline database development, model existing database tables to create a new view offline, and to generate changes back to the database.
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Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is a free graphical tool that enhances productivity and simplifies data modeling tasks. Using Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler you can create, browse and edit, logical, relational, physical, multi-dimensional, and data type models.
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pgModeler
pgModeler is an open source tool for modeling databases that merges the classical concepts of entity-relationship diagrams with specific features that only PostgreSQL implements. It helps to easily create and edit database models with a simple and intuitive interface.
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Valentina Studio
Valentina Studio is a database management tool that helps to create, administer, query, and explore Valentina DB, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases for FREE.
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ERDesigner NG
The Mogwai ERDesigner is an entity relationship modeling/design tool(ERD). It is open source tool designed to make database modeling easier and support the developer in the whole development process, from database design to schema and code generation.
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Visible Analyst
Visible Analyst is a affordable graphical planning, analysis, and design tool that enables enterprises to build complex client/server applications and databases.
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DB-Main (discontinued)
DB-Main is an easy-to-use data modelling and data architecture platform. It is a generic CASE tool dedicated to database applications engineering, and in particular to database design, reverse engineering, re-engineering, integration, maintenance, and evolution.
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ModelRight
ModelRight is a database design and data modeling tool. It is used by data modelers, database developers, and database architects to create, visualize, and document their databases as an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD).
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pgDesigner
pgDesigner is an open source program for graphic design database for PostgreSQL. It has an easy to use interface and comprises of different handy features to support database development, management, and reverse engineering in a graphical way.
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X-TEA Modeler
X-TEA Modeler helps you write models and plans of enterprise systems. Its editor helps you to write specifications of tables, functions, and also to create/alter tables in your database.
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Astah
Astah's modeling tools allow you to visualize the essence of your ideas and software designs. Quickly and effortlessly build diagrams that create a clear understanding among teams. Build UML, ER diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Flowcharts, mind maps, and more in the most powerful modeling software.
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The database design process can be very complicated. The more complex the system, the more sophisticated the tool is needed. Their functionality can vary greatly, however, core features include:
• creating and editing database objects,
• database architecture modeling,
• visualization of a database schema,
• tracking relationships between entities,
• grouping logically related objects into clusters,
• diagrams overview.
Database designer tools enable building graphical models and generating DDL scripts on their basis. The script describes data and relations between entities in the designed database. Furthermore, the tools enable reverse engineering (visualization of the model from the SQL script).
Key factors of creating a reliable and well-organized database are:
• a properly designed data structure,
• establishing what data should be stored in particular objects,
• how objects should be related to each other.
All of them can be improved by using the relevant Database design tool. Additionally, some of them allow the visual representation of data using ERD, makes it easier to visualize even more complex schemas.
Without proper software, development is based on raw code. This increases the risk of errors at the initial stage. The tools allow users to edit the visual layout using simple drag-and-drop functions. With a user-friendly interface, browsing the structure is possible even for non-IT people.
We have created a list of tools that support the process of creating database structure and its content. Our list includes free database design tools as well as advanced, more professional data management tools.