Navigate Rails db/structure.sql and db/schema.rb visually — search tables, trace foreign keys, inspect PostgreSQL enums and views, compare columns, and jump to ActiveRecord models. Built for Ruby on Rails developers using VS Code and Cursor.

Turn a 2,000-line PostgreSQL dump or Rails schema file into a searchable UI — tables, columns, foreign keys, constraints, PostgreSQL enums, views, join tables, and one-click jumps to app/models.

Works in VS Code and Cursor. This extension is Rails-only (not Prisma, MySQL dumps, or generic SQL).

Rails Schema Navigator main view — sidebar, table detail, columns and foreign keys

Why use it

Problem	How this helps
Scrolling `structure.sql` to find a column	Instant search across tables and columns
Tracing FK relationships by hand	Click incoming/outgoing FK links to navigate
Spotting join / pivot tables	Join tables show a ⇄ badge in the sidebar
Jumping between schema and models	Open model from a table, or open explorer from a model file
Comparing two tables during a PR	Built-in Compare mode with column-by-column diff
Stale schema after migrations	Banner with dump command, open file, run in terminal, refresh

Requirements

VS Code 1.85+ or Cursor
A Rails project with db/structure.sql or db/schema.rb in the workspace

Install

From VS Code Marketplace

Open Extensions (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
Search Rails Schema Navigator
Click Install
Open a Rails repo that contains a schema file

Or from the command line:

code --install-extension prashantbangar03.rails-schema-navigator

From VSIX (offline)

If you have a VSIX file:

code --install-extension /path/to/rails-schema-navigator.VSIX

Reload the window after installing.

Quick start

Open a Rails app in VS Code / Cursor
Press Cmd+Alt+S (macOS) or Ctrl+Alt+S (Windows/Linux)
— or run Rails Schema Navigator: Open from the Command Palette
Click a table in the sidebar to inspect columns, constraints, and FKs

From the editor

Open db/structure.sql or db/schema.rb → click the database icon in the editor title bar
Open any app/models/*.rb file (not concerns) → Open from Model jumps to that table

Features

Schema sources

db/structure.sql — PostgreSQL dump (tables, views, PG enums, domains, indexes, constraints)
db/schema.rb — Rails schema DSL including create_enum / t.enum

Tables — click to open detail view; join tables show ⇄
Views — PostgreSQL views (from structure.sql)
Search — filter tables and columns; press / to focus search

Search prefixes:

Prefix	Filters
`t:`	Tables only
`c:` or `col:`	Columns only
`v:`	Views only

Table detail

Collapsible sections per table (state saved per table):

Columns — type, NOT NULL, DEFAULT, UNIQUE, index chips, enum values
Table constraints — indexes, unique, partial indexes, CHECK, exclude
Incoming / outgoing FKs — click to navigate to related tables
Many-to-many — join tables linking two entities

Header actions

Compare — side-by-side column comparison with another table
Open model — opens app/models/... when a model exists (including join/pivot models)
Copy name — copies the table name

Compare mode — side-by-side column diff between two Rails tables

Rails integration

Scans app/models for Rails enums and shows them on columns
Open model from table header
Open explorer from model from the model editor title bar
Join table detection (strict joins and named pivots like apis_channels)

Multi-project workspaces

When several Rails apps are in one workspace:

Header project picker (30% width) + table search (70%)
Rails Schema Navigator: Switch Project from Command Palette
Optionally follow the active editor (see Settings)

If the schema file is older than recent migrations:

Copy rails db:structure:dump (or equivalent) command
Open schema file
Run dump in terminal
Refresh explorer

Keyboard shortcuts

Action	Command	macOS	Win/Linux
Open navigator	`Rails Schema Navigator: Open`	`Cmd+Alt+S`	`Ctrl+Alt+S`
Find table	`Rails Schema Navigator: Find Table`	`Ctrl+Shift+J`	`Ctrl+Shift+J`
Refresh	`Rails Schema Navigator: Refresh`	`Cmd+Shift+R` *	`Ctrl+Shift+R` *
Switch project	`Rails Schema Navigator: Switch Project`	—	—

* When the explorer panel is focused.

Settings

Setting	Default	Description
`schemaExplorer.followEditor`	`true`	Active schema project follows the editor; disable to pin a project
`schemaExplorer.showStatusBar`	`true`	Show active schema project in the status bar

Open Settings and search for schemaExplorer.

Limitations

Topic	Details
Rails only	Reads `db/structure.sql` or `db/schema.rb` — not Prisma, Sequelize, or generic SQL files
PostgreSQL (full)	Enums, domains, views, and partial indexes are parsed from `structure.sql` PostgreSQL dumps
`schema.rb` only	Tables and Rails `create_enum` / `t.enum` work; PG views and custom types from dumps are not available
MySQL / SQLite	Partial support via `schema.rb`; PostgreSQL-specific features do not apply
Remote / virtual workspaces	Requires local schema files on disk (see `virtualWorkspaces` in `package.json`)
Very large schemas	Parsing runs in-process; extremely large dumps may take a moment on first open

Privacy

This extension:

Reads schema and model files locally from your workspace
Does not send data to external servers
Does not include telemetry or analytics
Stores UI preferences (sidebar width, collapsed sections) in webview localStorage only

Keyboard shortcut notes

Default shortcuts may conflict with other extensions or custom keybindings:

Shortcut	Possible conflict
`Cmd+Alt+S` / `Ctrl+Alt+S`	Other “save” or navigation bindings
`Ctrl+Shift+J`	Join lines / panel toggles in some setups
`Cmd+Shift+R` / `Ctrl+Shift+R`	Only active when the explorer panel is focused

Rebind under Keyboard Shortcuts → search Rails Schema Navigator.

License

MIT License

Rails Schema Navigator