Database CI/CD with Atlas

CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment) automates the process of validating and deploying schema changes. Instead of manually reviewing SQL and running migrations by hand, Atlas integrates into your existing CI/CD pipeline. The workflow has four stages:

Database CI/CD workflow with Atlas: Develop, Review, Deliver, Deploy.

Develop: Create a branch, edit your schema, generate a migration plan.
Review: Open a pull request. Atlas runs CI to simulate and validate the change, run any tests, and enforce any custom rules set by your team. A lint report with 50+ built-in checks is posted as a PR comment.
Deliver: After merge, push the approved version to the Atlas Registry.
Deploy: Apply the change to your target databases.

For a deeper understanding of the principles behind this workflow, see the Modern Database CI/CD guide.

Prerequisites

An Atlas Pro account (atlas login)
A bot token from Atlas Cloud, stored as a CI secret (e.g. ATLAS_CLOUD_TOKEN)

Get Started with CI/CD for Schema Changes

Atlas provides full CI/CD setup guides for both workflows. Pick yours:

CI/CD for Versioned Migrations

Lint migration files on every PR, push to the Atlas Registry on merge, and apply pending migrations to your databases.

CI/CD for Declarative Migrations

Generate schema plans on PRs, approve and push on merge, and apply changes using pre-approved plans.

Supported CI Platforms

Atlas verifies your schema changes by running them against various checks to ensure their safety and validity. Verify these changes locally, or as part of your CI process.

GitHub

Setup automatic migration linting with GitHub Actions.

Gitlab

Setup automatic migration linting with GitLab CI.

Bitbucket

Setup automatic migration linting with Bitbucket Pipes.

Azure DevOps

Setup automatic migration linting with Azure DevOps.

CircleCI

Setup automatic migration linting with CircleCI Orbs.

CLI

Verify your migration files locally using the Atlas CLI. Works with Jenkins, TeamCity, Drone, or any custom CI runner.

Deploying Migrations

Deploy migrations to target databases in production by integrating natively with your infrastructure management.

Kubernetes Operator

Use the Atlas Kubernetes Operator to manage database schema changes.

Argo CD

Deploy migrations using GitOps with Argo CD.

Crossplane

Manage database schemas with Atlas using Crossplane.