`gh-ost` is a triggerless online schema migration solution for MySQL. It is testable and provides pausability, dynamic control/reconfiguration, auditing, and many operational perks.
All existing online-schema-change tools operate in similar manner: they create a _ghost_ table in the likeness of your original table, migrate that table while empty, slowly and incrementally copy data from your original table to the _ghost_ table, meanwhile propagating ongoing changes (any `INSERT`, `DELETE`, `UPDATE` applied to your table) to the _ghost_ table. Finally, at the right time, they replace your original table with the _ghost_ table.
`gh-ost` uses the same pattern. However it differs from all existing tools by not using triggers. We have recognized the triggers to be the source of [many limitations and risks](doc/why-triggerless.md).
Instead, `gh-ost` [uses the binary log stream](doc/triggerless-design.md) to capture table changes, and asynchronously applies them onto the _ghost_ table. `gh-ost` takes upon itself some tasks that other tools leave for the database to perform. As result, `gh-ost` has greater control over the migration process; can truly suspend it; can truly decouple the migration's write load from the master's workload.
- Build your trust in `gh-ost` by testing it on replicas. `gh-ost` will issue same flow as it would have on the master, to migrate a table on a replica, without actually replacing the original table, leaving the replica with two tables you can then compare and satisfy yourself that the tool operates correctly. This is how we continuously test `gh-ost` in production.
- True pause: when `gh-ost` [throttles](doc/throttle.md), it truly ceases writes on master: no row copies and no ongoing events processing. By throttling, you return your master to its original workload
- Dynamic control: you can [interactively](doc/interactive-commands.md) reconfigure `gh-ost`, even as migration still runs. You may forcibly initiate throttling.
- Auditing: you may query `gh-ost` for status. `gh-ost` listens on unix socket or TCP.
- Control over cut-over phase: `gh-ost` can be instructed to postpone what is probably the most critical step: the swap of tables, until such time that you're comfortably available. No need to worry about ETA being outside office hours.
- a _noop_ migration (merely testing that the migration is valid and good to go)
- a real migration, utilizing a replica (the migration runs on the master; `gh-ost` figures out identities of servers involved. Required mode if your master uses Statement Based Replication)
- a real migration, run directly on the master (but `gh-ost` prefers the former)
- a real migration on a replica (master untouched)
- a test migration on a replica, the way for you to build trust with `gh-ost`'s operation.
- [Testing above all](doc/testing-on-replica.md), try out `--test-on-replica` first few times. Better yet, make it continuous. We have multiple replicas where we iterate our entire fleet of production tables, migrating them one by one, checksumming the results, verifying migration is good.
Originally this was named `gh-osc`: GitHub Online Schema Change, in the likes of [Facebook online schema change](https://www.facebook.com/notes/mysql-at-facebook/online-schema-change-for-mysql/430801045932/) and [pt-online-schema-change](https://www.percona.com/doc/percona-toolkit/2.2/pt-online-schema-change.html).
But then a rare genetic mutation happened, and the `c` transformed into `t`. And that sent us down the path of trying to figure out a new acronym. `gh-ost` (pronounce: _Ghost_), stands for GitHub's Online Schema Transmogrifier/Translator/Transformer/Transfigurator
`gh-ost` is released at a stable state, and still with mileage to go. We are [open to pull requests](https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md). Please first discuss your intentions via [Issues](https://github.com/github/gh-ost/issues).
We develop `gh-ost` at GitHub and for the community. We may have different priorities than others. From time to time we may suggest a contribution that is not on our immediate roadmap but which may appeal to others.
`gh-ost` is a Go project; it is built with Go 1.7. See and use [build file](https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/build.sh) for compiling it on your own.
