MySQL → PostgreSQL Migration

Migrate from MySQL to PostgreSQL.

MySQL to PostgreSQL migration at Empyreal Infotech gains ACID compliance, advanced indexing, and JSON support through 70-85% schema compatibility with 8-14 week timelines.

Gain advanced features, better reliability, and stronger data integrity. We handle schema translation and compatibility validation.

70–85% schema compatibility. Timeline 8–14 weeks. Investment $85–140K. ACID compliance, JSON/JSONB, full-text search, partial indexes, materialized views.

Schedule Schema Review Audit my MySQL schema
ACID · constraintsJSONB · GINpgBouncer8–14 weeks
Why Move

Why move to PostgreSQL.

ACID compliance and reliability

PostgreSQL enforces stricter data integrity. Full transaction support, proper foreign keys, and rollback guarantees prevent silent data loss.

Advanced features and extensibility

JSON/JSONB support, full-text search, arrays, ranges, custom types, and procedural languages. Build sophisticated queries without application logic.

Better query planning and performance

Sophisticated query optimizer, partial indexes, materialized views, and statistics. Often faster than MySQL for complex analytical queries.

Constraints

PostgreSQL constraints you need to understand.

Schema syntax differences

AUTO_INCREMENT becomes SERIAL or GENERATED BY DEFAULT. CHECK constraints are enforced (MySQL ignored them). DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP and other syntax varies.

Type casting strictness

PostgreSQL won't auto-coerce types. String-to-integer comparisons fail without explicit casting. Application code may need type-handling updates.

Reserved keywords conflicts

PostgreSQL has more reserved words than MySQL. Column names like "user", "order", "date" require quoting, creating compatibility friction.

Operational model shift

PostgreSQL uses more memory by default. Tuning (shared_buffers, effective_cache_size) is different. Backup and replication strategies require relearning.

Migration Path

Your MySQL-to-PostgreSQL migration path.

01

Schema Analysis & Compatibility Audit

Analyze MySQL schema for PostgreSQL compatibility issues. Identify AUTO_INCREMENT, type mismatches, reserved keywords, constraints. Document application-level workarounds needed. Timeline: 1–2 weeks.

02

PostgreSQL Schema Build & Validation

Create PostgreSQL schema with proper syntax. Define sequences, check constraints, triggers. Set up replication slots, logical replication. Validate schema against sample data. Timeline: 2–3 weeks.

03

Data Migration & Integrity Testing

Use pg_dump with MySQL foreign data wrapper or custom ETL. Validate row counts, checksums, referential integrity. Test constraint violations. Handle large table partitioning if needed. Timeline: 2–3 weeks.

04

Application Code Updates

Update database drivers and connection strings. Fix type-casting queries, parameter binding, timezone handling. Test all database interactions under load. Timeline: 2–3 weeks.

05

Cutover & Rollback Testing

Dry-run cutover with traffic shadowing. Test rollback plan. Switch DNS to PostgreSQL. Monitor query logs for compatibility issues. Decommission MySQL once stable. Timeline: 1–2 weeks.

Risks

Risks we actively manage.

Silent query behavior changes

MySQL's lax type coercion masked bugs. PostgreSQL will error. We run comprehensive query testing against production data patterns.

Data loss from constraint violations

PostgreSQL enforces constraints MySQL ignored. We validate data completeness before cutover and handle edge cases explicitly.

Performance regression on complex queries

Query optimizer behaves differently. We profile slow queries and add indexes or hints before production.

Connection pool exhaustion

PostgreSQL's connection model is different from MySQL. We configure pgBouncer and adjust application pool settings.

Reserved keyword naming conflicts

Queries break when column names are keywords. We document all quoting requirements and validate application ORM behavior.

Next Step

Ready to upgrade to PostgreSQL reliability.

Let's audit your schema and build a migration timeline.

Schedule Schema Review Email Mohit directly
Questions

Frequently asked questions about MySQL to PostgreSQL migrations

Direct answers about how this engagement actually works. If your question is not here, ask Mohit directly.

Can we migrate MySQL to Postgres without downtime, or do we have to go offline?
Minimal downtime. Use logical replication (MySQL binlog -> Postgres via tools like Debezium or AWS DMS). Both databases stay in sync during migration window. Switch writes to Postgres, verify for 1 hour, done. Total downtime: 5-15 minutes. Keep MySQL read-only as a fallback for 2-3 weeks in case Postgres has bugs.
How long and what does a MySQL to Postgres migration cost?
8-14 weeks, $85-140K. Most time is schema translation (ENUMs become CHECK constraints, AUTO_INCREMENT becomes SERIAL, loose typing tightens). For large schemas (500+ tables), add 2 weeks. Data validation and constraint testing takes another week. Small databases: 4-6 weeks, $40-80K.
What about preserving data and minimizing migration risk?
We run dual-write testing: writes go to both MySQL and Postgres in parallel for 2 weeks. Every read queries MySQL (source of truth) and compares results with Postgres. Mismatches halt the migration until fixed. Once parity verified, we flip to Postgres-only reads/writes with MySQL as read-only fallback for rollback.
What's the biggest gotcha migrating MySQL schemas to Postgres?
Type coercion. MySQL loosely casts values; Postgres is strict. Columns storing mixed types (strings + numbers) fail on Postgres. ENUM columns need to become custom types or CHECK constraints. Lack of explicit NOT NULL constraints will surprise you. Plan 1-2 weeks for schema translation and 2-3 weeks for data cleaning and fixing bad values.
If Postgres has critical bugs, can we go back to MySQL?
Yes. Keep MySQL writable for 3 weeks. Data syncs both ways (Postgres writes back to MySQL) so you never lose data. Rollback means flipping the application connection string back to MySQL and pointing DNS at the old database. Takes 5 minutes. No data loss because MySQL stayed in sync the whole time.
What do we get after the migration?
pgBouncer configuration for connection pooling, replication monitoring dashboard (monitoring both MySQL read-only and Postgres primary), backup/restore documentation, troubleshooting runbook for common Postgres issues. 1-week training on Postgres performance tuning, JSONB querying, and how to leverage new Postgres features (CTEs, window functions, generated columns) to optimize slow queries.

Have a different question? Email the team or read the full FAQ.