A Desktop Companion for Apache Derby Databases

DbSchema gives Apache Derby teams a design-first workflow: import the existing schema as an interactive ER diagram, refine it visually, and ship every change as a reviewed SQL script.

Built for visual modeling, schema documentation, and deployment, with an offline model you can keep in Git, team collaboration, and documentation that developers, analysts, and stakeholders can navigate in minutes.

Download DbSchema See Apache Derby Features Download Apache Derby JDBC Driver · All drivers

Apache Derby is a lightweight Java database distributed with the JDK as JavaDB, and it remains common in Java EE application servers, test containers, and standalone Java applications that need an embedded relational store. Derby databases are self-contained file directories, making them portable but lacking any built-in graphical tooling. DbSchema connects to Derby in both embedded and network server modes, providing ER diagrams, a table editor, and SQL tooling for developers who need to understand or evolve a Derby schema.

Design Derby Schemas in Embedded and Network Mode

Derby's embedded mode requires no server process — DbSchema opens the database files directly. When Derby runs as a network server inside a Java EE container, DbSchema connects over the network and renders the same visual schema. Both modes produce the same diagram canvas with tables, columns, and foreign key relationships visible at a glance.

Download DbSchema Free See Apache Derby Features

Modify Table Definitions Visually

Derby's SQL dialect is strict about types and constraints, and ALTER TABLE operations have specific limitations compared to other databases. DbSchema's table editor generates Derby- compatible DDL for each change and previews it before applying, reducing the risk of runtime errors when modifying a live Derby instance.

Populate Derby Databases with Test Data

Derby is often used in Java test pipelines that require representative data to exercise application logic. DbSchema's data generator produces rows that satisfy Derby's type constraints and foreign key relationships, seeding test databases with realistic content without requiring hand-written INSERT scripts for every test scenario.

Connecting DbSchema to an Apache Derby Database

Whether Derby runs embedded or as a network server, the connection is quick to set up:

1. Install DbSchema — the free download needs no account or signup.
2. Pick a mode: embedded, where DbSchema opens the database files directly, or Derby Network Server, started with java -jar derbyrun.jar server start.
3. For embedded mode, set the JDBC URL to jdbc:derby:/path/to/db;create=true, where create=true creates the database if it does not already exist; for network mode, use jdbc:derby://host:1527/dbname instead.
4. Connect — DbSchema, which includes the Derby JDBC driver for both modes, reverse-engineers the schema into the diagram canvas.

Derby enforces single-JVM access in embedded mode, so stop the owning application before opening an embedded Derby database in DbSchema to avoid lock conflicts.

Why Use DbSchema with Apache Derby

• Open Derby embedded databases without starting the host Java application
• Generate ER diagrams for Derby schemas that have never been formally documented
• Edit table structures with Derby-compatible DDL validation built in
• Seed test databases with constraint-aware synthetic data for integration tests
• Generate schema documentation for Java EE application audits and handovers

Working with a Derby database bundled inside a Java EE container or test suite? Download DbSchema for free and get an ER diagram of it in either embedded or network mode.

Tutorials and guides

• Design and manage Apache Derby visually

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