Practical guides on database design, ER diagrams, and table spec automation.
Learn database normalization through worked examples — the incident each normal form prevents, and the three tests for denormalizing on purpose.
How to read crow's foot notation symbol by symbol, with reading drills, plus Chen and Barker compared on the same relationship.
Learn Mermaid erDiagram syntax with a forum example — how to read the relationship symbols, practical tips, and when to move to a dedicated tool.
How to generate an ERD from an existing database with Workbench's EER diagram, export it as PNG or SVG, and what to do when you outgrow it.
How to get a usable schema out of ChatGPT or Claude: ask for DDL, turn it into a diagram, and catch the flaws AI leaves behind.
Getting started with ERDCloud, the free collaborative ERD tool from Korea — screen layout, export options, tips, and when to look further.
Three ways to turn DDL into an ER diagram, compared — with a hands-on run from mysqldump to a finished, editable ERD.
A fair look at the free tiers of dbdiagram, drawSQL, ChartDB, ERDCloud and WorksCove — what each includes, and which fits which situation.
Learn how to draw an ER diagram step by step: extract entities, define relationships and keys, read crow's foot notation, and practice with a forum schema.
The fields every table specification needs, a template you can copy, why hand-maintained specs drift, and how to generate the document straight from SQL.
