We just released an update to our branching workflow: safe migrations. This feature enables direct DDL on production branches, allowing for non-blocking schema changes while minimizing downtime and potential data loss. Existing databases have been automatically enabled with safe migrations, and users can now turn it on when promoting a branch to production. The introduction of safe migrations aims to improve the user experience by providing more flexibility in database management, especially for developers who use workarounds to run direct DDL on their production databases. This update benefits users in various scenarios, including early development, frameworks with built-in migrations, and CMS platforms like WordPress, which may require running DDL on production databases. The goal of safe migrations is to provide a more accessible and user-friendly database management workflow while maintaining the stability and availability of PlanetScale's services.