Handling Database Schema Drift in Multi-Tenant Spring Boot Applications
Handling Database Schema Drift When building a Spring Boot web application that must be deployed across multiple customers, it is common to face a challenging scenario: all customers use similar databases, but not all database schemas are perfectly aligned. Some clients may have: Tables missing newly introduced columns Tables partially updated due to failed or delayed migrations Legacy schemas that evolved independently over time This situation, often referred to as database schema drift , can easily lead to runtime errors, failed queries, and fragile application logic if not handled correctly. In this article, we’ll explore the best architectural and technical solutions, ordered from most robust and scalable to simplest and most tactical, to handle schema differences in a multi-customer Spring Boot environment. Why Schema Drift Is a Serious Problem Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understan...