The promises and realities of the relational database model

This post elaborates on the challenges of traditional relational database schema management, particularly the operational overhead and developer friction. It contrasts historical DBA-centric approaches with modern CI/CD demands, highlighting issues like metadata locking, manual tooling, coordination needs, and the lack of undo capabilities. The post positions PlanetScale's approach as a solution to these problems, emphasizing developer ownership and a more integrated schema change workflow.