Features
KeyDeveloper is a comprehensive and extensible database tool. Read about some of the features below.
Modeling
Visually design your databases using an easy-to-use diagram tool, with features to automatically position relations, align and move elements quickly, as well as multilevel undo support.
Database models can be created from scratch, or by reverse engineering existing databases
Models are checked in real time as you make changes, and any problems will be reported in the issue list. Using the KeyDeveloper API, you can easily add your own checks, which may include corrective actions.
Scripting
The scripting editor can be used to run SQL and DDL queries, as well as Javascript and Beanshell scripts.
KeyDeveloper is scriptable on all levels, from startup-scripts to customize the IDE, to project specific model checking scripts.
Visual models and metadata can be easily modified using the model API. You can write scripts in either Javascript or Beanshell, with full access to Java.
Compare and update
Quickly see which tables, columns, triggers and other objects are different. You can compare databases and models in any combination. KeyDeveloper generates DDL scripts for the parts you are interested in, making it easy to bring a database in sync with a model or another database.
In addition, you can compare the contents of tables and get a list of SQL statements to synchronize the databases.
Modern UI
KeyDeveloper features a modern UI with an Office style ribbon which is completely customizable through plugins.
Features like multilevel undo/redo and automatic fixes for model issues helps you increase productivity.
Quick Commands gives you access to most of the functionality at the click of a button.
Collect multiple models, scripts, tasks and database connections in projects for easy access to your assets.
Generate documentation
Export documentation to HTML for interactive navigation or printing. The interactive version allows you to click on diagram elements to see table details.
A print-friendly version can be exported to PDF for customer handover.
Dialects, logical models and JPA
Support for new databases can be added by implementing a dialect. KeyDeveloper ships with the MySQL and JPA dialects. In addition, we provide samples on Github that you can use as the starting point for new dialects.
In addition to physical models for a specific database, you can create database agnostic JPA models. This can be used to generate source code targeting any JPA compliant framework, such as Hibernate and EclipseLink.
You can use the scripting capabilities to add new generators for other frameworks, like NHibernate or Apache Cayenne.
Tasks
Tasks help you automate routines, such as source code generation, deployment and other scriptable actions.
A task is made configurable through properties, making them reusable in many projects. Tasks can be written in any combination of Java or Javascript.
To help author code generators as tasks, KeyDeveloper ships with StringTemplate, while allowing any Java based templating engine to be used.
