Crowfoot — From ERD Design to a Real Database

Crowfoot — From ERD Design to a Real Database

When starting a new project, one of the first things developers usually do is design the database.

We create tables, define columns, set primary and foreign keys, and establish relationships between tables.

Then the ERD is complete.

But that's usually where another task begins.

We have to write SQL, create the actual database, and keep the database schema synchronized whenever the design changes.

What if the ERD could be connected directly to the actual database?

That idea is what led me to build Crowfoot.

 

https://crowfoot.java21.net

What is Crowfoot?

Crowfoot is a web-based ERD and database design tool for developers.

You can design your database directly in a web browser without installing a separate desktop application.

But Crowfoot is not intended to be just another diagramming tool.

The goal is to connect the entire database development workflow:

ERD → SQL → Real Database

Crowfoot currently focuses on MySQL and PostgreSQL, with support for additional database systems planned for the future.

Design Your ERD in the Browser

Crowfoot provides the core features needed to design a relational database, including:

• Tables and columns
• Primary Keys
• Foreign Keys
• Unique constraints
• Indexes
• Table relationships
• 1:1 and 1:N relationships
• Crow's Foot notation
• Logical and physical database modeling

I'm also working on automatic layout capabilities to make complex ERDs easier to understand and reduce overlapping relationship lines.

The goal is simple:

Design complex database structures while keeping the diagram readable.

From ERD to SQL

One of the main ideas behind Crowfoot is that an ERD should be more than just a visual representation.

A database design contains valuable information that can be used to generate the actual database schema.

That's why Crowfoot is being designed around the workflow:

Design your ERD → Generate SQL → Apply it to your database

Instead of creating an ERD in one tool and manually writing SQL somewhere else, Crowfoot aims to bring these steps together.

A Free ERD Tool for Developers

When starting a personal project, learning project, or side project, you might ask:

Do I really need to install a database modeling tool just to create an ERD?

Or:

How can I easily share my database design with other developers?

Crowfoot is being built to make this process simpler.

Open the website, create your ERD, and start designing your database.

The service is intended to be useful for:

• Personal projects
• Side projects
• Learning projects
• Backend development
• Database design practice
• Small development teams

Still Under Development

Crowfoot is an actively developing project.

Rather than trying to build everything at once, I'm gradually adding features based on what developers actually need.

Some of the features planned for future releases include:

• ERD version history
• Change tracking and restore
• Workspaces
• ERD sharing
• Read / Edit permissions
• Real-time collaboration
• Database connections
• Data dictionary
• SQL generation and database synchronization
• Expanded MySQL and PostgreSQL support
• Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server support

The long-term goal is to evolve Crowfoot from an ERD editor into a practical database development platform.

Try Crowfoot

You can try Crowfoot here:

https://crowfoot.java21.net

Crowfoot is still under active development, so there are plenty of things to improve.

If you try it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Feedback about missing features, usability issues, or ideas for improving the database design workflow is always welcome.

The goal is simple:

Design your database, generate your SQL, and connect it to the real world.

Welcome to Crowfoot.