01 — Project Overview
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Problem Statement
Database schema design is the most important foundation of any Laravel project. LaravelSD (laravelsd.com) was the go-to visual schema designer for Laravel developers, but it is now outdated and no longer functional.
There is currently no modern, Laravel-native visual schema designer available.
Existing alternatives like drawSQL and dbdiagram.io are generic SQL tools — they don't understand Laravel conventions like Eloquent relationships, migration syntax, factories, or model generation.
Solution
SchemaCraft is a modern visual database schema designer built specifically for Laravel. It allows developers to:
- Design database schemas visually with drag-and-drop on an infinite canvas
- Define Eloquent relationships between tables with automatic FK creation
- Generate production-ready Laravel code — migrations, models, factories, and seeders
- Export a complete, ready-to-run Laravel + Filament project as a downloadable ZIP — includes a browser-based setup wizard so users are up and running with
composer install && php artisan serve
Distribution Model
SchemaCraft ships in two formats:
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| Open-source Laravel Package | Installable via Composer into any Laravel project. Runs locally. Community-driven. |
| Hosted SaaS Application | Cloud-hosted version with premium features like collaboration, team workspaces, and cloud storage. |
Open-source Installation
composer require schemacraft/schemacraft
php artisan schemacraft:install
Then visit /schemacraft in the browser to start designing.
SaaS
The hosted version wraps the same package with authentication, cloud storage, team collaboration, and billing on top.
Competitive Landscape
| Tool | Status | Laravel-native | Visual Editor | Code Generation | Open-source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaravelSD | Dead | Yes | Yes | Migrations only | No |
| drawSQL | Active | No | Yes | Generic SQL | No |
| dbdiagram.io | Active | No | Code-based | Generic SQL | No |
| Laravel Blueprint | Active | Yes | No (YAML) | Full stack | Yes |
| SchemaCraft | Building | Yes | Yes | Full stack | Yes + SaaS |
What Sets SchemaCraft Apart
- Laravel-native: Understands Eloquent relationships, migration syntax, and Laravel conventions
- Visual + Code: Design visually, generate real Laravel code (not generic SQL)
- Open-source core: Free to use locally, community-driven improvements
- SaaS option: Cloud features for teams who want collaboration and persistence
Inspiration
- LaravelSD — The original Laravel schema designer (no longer functional)
- drawSQL — Generic visual database designer
- dbdiagram.io — Code-based database diagramming tool
Success Metrics
Open-source Package
- GitHub stars and community engagement
- Composer downloads
- Community contributions (PRs, issues)
- Positive reviews and mentions in Laravel community
SaaS Application
- User registrations and activation rate
- Schemas created per user
- Free-to-paid conversion rate
- Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
- Team adoption rate
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