Go Goose

go-goose

Expert guidance for using pressly/​goose to create and run database migrations via the CLI or Go library.

When to trigger

• The user mentions goose, pressly/​goose, database migrations in Go, or asks how to run SQL/​Go migrations.
• The task involves embedding migrations, provider API usage, or CI workflows with goose.

Core rules

• Follow the repository's existing migration layout, dialect, and naming conventions first.
• Ensure the database driver and goose dialect match (e.g., postgres driver with postgres dialect).
• Prefer SQL migrations for schema changes; use Go migrations for complex data backfills or code-driven steps.
• Keep migrations deterministic and idempotent within goose's rules (one Up, optional Down).

Workflow

1. Clarify context: target DB/​dialect, driver, migration directory, SQL vs Go migration needs, and desired command (create/​up/​down/​status/​etc).
2. Choose interface:
   • CLI for ad-hoc runs or CI/​CD.
   • Library/​Provider when migrations are executed inside Go services or tests.
3. Author migrations:
   • SQL: use goose annotations and statement rules (see references/​sql-annotations.md).
   • Go: register migrations in init and wire into a custom binary or Provider (see references/​go-migrations.md).
4. Run migrations:
   • CLI usage, commands, and env vars in references/​cli.md.
   • Library/​Provider patterns in references/​library.md.
5. Versioning + ordering:
   • Use hybrid versioning during development and fix for production sequencing if required (see references/​versioning.md).

Output expectations

• Provide exact commands or code snippets that match the user's dialect and environment.
• Warn about missing Down migrations when rollbacks are required.
• If a migration requires special parsing or non-transactional execution, call it out explicitly.

References

• CLI usage and env vars: references/​cli.md
• SQL annotations and parsing rules: references/​sql-annotations.md
• Go migration registration patterns: references/​go-migrations.md
• Library and Provider API usage: references/​library.md
• Versioning and ordering: references/​versioning.md