Frequently Asked Questions

Product Information: Hygraph Management SDK

What is the Hygraph Management SDK and what does it do?

The Hygraph Management SDK is a typed software development kit that allows you to programmatically manage your Hygraph project configuration, including schema, models, fields, taxonomies, workflows, webhooks, and editor UI elements. It enables you to execute multiple schema-related actions in order and in a single transaction, making it suitable for automation and repeatability. Unlike the Content API, which handles data entry, the Management SDK is used to define and manage the architecture of your project. Note: The Management SDK does not handle content operations such as creating or updating content entries; for those, use the Content API.

What are the main use cases for the Hygraph Management SDK?

The Management SDK is intended for scenarios where manual configuration does not scale well. Typical use cases include automating schema changes, synchronizing configuration between environments (such as development, staging, or production), running schema migrations during deployments, and enforcing consistency in large or distributed teams. It is also used for storing and reviewing configuration changes in version control and running migrations safely as part of CI/CD pipelines. Note: The SDK is not intended for content operations or editorial workflows.

What can I manage with the Hygraph Management SDK?

You can use the Management SDK to manage project configuration elements such as schema and models (including fields, relations, and remote fields), taxonomies and hierarchical taxonomy nodes, remote sources (REST and GraphQL), content workflows and workflow stages, webhook configuration and triggers, and editor UI elements (system and custom sidebar elements). Note: The SDK does not manage content entries; for content operations, use the Content API.

How does the Hygraph Management SDK handle batch changes and migrations?

The Management SDK allows you to apply multiple schema-related changes in a single transaction using the submitBatchChanges mutation. If any change in the batch fails, the entire batch is rolled back automatically, ensuring atomicity and consistency. This is particularly useful for running migrations safely as part of CI/CD pipelines and for synchronizing environments. Note: The batch migration mode replaces the target schema and does not merge changes; any schema changes in the target environment not present in the source will be deleted.

When should I use the Management SDK instead of the Content API?

Use the Management SDK when you need to automate or script project configuration tasks, such as schema changes, environment synchronization, or migration as part of deployment pipelines. The Content API should be used for content operations, such as creating, updating, or querying published content. Note: The Management SDK does not support content entry operations or editorial workflows.

What are the limitations of the Hygraph Management SDK?

The Management SDK is not intended for creating or updating content entries, editorial workflows, or querying published content. It is focused solely on project configuration and schema management. For content operations, use the Content API. Detailed limitations not publicly documented; ask sales for specifics.

Features & Capabilities

Does Hygraph support automation and CI/CD integration for schema changes?

Yes, the Management SDK is designed for automation and repeatability. It allows you to run migrations safely as part of CI/CD pipelines, apply schema changes automatically before shipping dependent code, and batch migrations to ensure changes are validated and applied atomically. This reduces the risk of partial or inconsistent updates. Note: The SDK is not intended for content operations or editorial workflows.

Can I use the Management SDK to synchronize configuration between different environments?

Yes, the Management SDK supports synchronizing configuration between environments such as development, staging, and production. You can generate a diff from a development environment and apply it to another environment, replacing the target schema. Note: This process does not merge changes; any schema changes in the target environment not present in the source will be deleted.

How does the Management SDK help with version control and auditing?

The Management SDK enables you to define schema and configuration changes as code, which can be stored and reviewed in a version control system alongside your application. This allows teams to review, audit, and apply changes consistently across environments using pull requests. Note: The SDK does not track content changes; it is focused on configuration management.

Technical Requirements & Documentation

Where can I find technical documentation and guides for the Management SDK?

Comprehensive technical documentation for the Management SDK is available on the Hygraph website, including a Quickstart guide, migration guides, and API reference documentation. For more details, visit the Management SDK documentation. Note: For content operations, refer to the Content API documentation.

How do I migrate from the previous Hygraph SDK to the current Management SDK?

Hygraph provides a dedicated migration guide for users transitioning from the previous SDK to the current Management SDK. The guide covers the necessary steps and considerations for a smooth migration. You can access the migration guide at this link. Note: Always test migration scripts in a development environment before applying them to production.

Support & Implementation

What resources are available to help me get started with the Management SDK?

Hygraph offers a range of resources to help you get started, including a Quickstart guide, comprehensive API reference documentation, and migration guides. For onboarding and technical support, you can access structured onboarding, community support via Slack (slack.hygraph.com), and training resources such as webinars and live streams. Note: For advanced scenarios or troubleshooting, consult the official documentation or reach out to Hygraph support.

Security & Compliance

What security and compliance certifications does Hygraph hold?

Hygraph holds several security and compliance certifications, including SOC 2 Type 2 (achieved August 3rd, 2022), ISO 27001 for hosting infrastructure, and GDPR compliance. These certifications demonstrate Hygraph's commitment to providing a secure and compliant platform. Note: For more details, visit the Hygraph Secure Features page.

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When was this page last updated?

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#Management SDK

The Hygraph Management SDK lets you programmatically manage your Hygraph project configuration, including schema, models, fields, taxonomies, workflows, webhooks, and editor UI elements. It provides a typed SDK that allows multiple schema-related actions to be executed in order and in a single transaction.

It is designed for automation and repeatability, enabling you to manage Hygraph configuration as code rather than through manual UI changes. Unlike the Content API, which handles data entry, the Management SDK defines the architecture of your project.

#Key benefits

The Management SDK is intended for use cases where manual configuration does not scale well. It enables you to:

  • Apply multiple schema-related changes. It allows accepting a set of changes which are applied on an “all or none” basis. So if anything fails in one of the events along the process, everything is rolled back automatically.
  • Bypass the web app, by allowing you to create a script that applies all the changes at once, without you having to procedurally create everything.
  • Apply the scripts you create to different environments. So they can be used in test environments to test schema changes upfront. In this scenario, you would make all the schema changes in this migration script, test it, then apply the script to the master environment when everything works as intended.
  • Store and review configuration changes in version control. Define schema and configuration changes as code and store them in a version control system alongside your application. This allows teams to review, audit, and apply changes consistently across environments using pull requests.
  • Run migrations safely as part of CI/CD pipelines. Use the Management SDK in deployment pipelines to apply schema changes automatically before shipping dependent code. Batch migrations ensure changes are validated and applied atomically, reducing the risk of partial or inconsistent updates.

If you need to script or automate the Hygraph setup, the Management SDK is the recommended approach.

#How it works

The SDK works in two modes.

  • Write changes directly: You initialize a client, call the methods that describe the schema you want, and then submit them to the Management server through the SDK. For more information, see the quickstart guide.

  • Sync changes between environments: If you have a development environment where you've already made and tested schema changes, you can generate a diff and apply it directly to another environment. This mode replaces the target schema. It does not merge changes. Any schema changes that exist in the target environment but not in the source will be deleted. For more information, see the batch migration guide.

In the above cases, the underlying method is the submitBatchChanges mutation. If any single change fails, the entire batch is rolled back automatically.

submitBatchChanges(data: BatchMigrationInput!): AsyncOperationPayload!

This mutation takes an environmentId, an optional name, and a list of changes as arguments, then executes them in a single transaction.

#What you can manage

The Management SDK covers project configuration, not content.

You can use it to manage:

  • Schema and models: Models, fields, relations, remote fields
  • Taxonomies: Taxonomies and hierarchical taxonomy nodes
  • Remote sources: REST and GraphQL remote sources
  • Workflows: Content workflows and workflow stages
  • Webhooks: Webhook configuration and triggers
  • Editor UI: System and custom sidebar elements

#When to use the SDK

Use the Management SDK when you need to:

  • Automate schema changes
  • Synchronize configuration between environments, such as development, staging, or production
  • Run schema migrations during deployments
  • Enforce consistency in large or distributed teams

#When not to use the SDK

The Management SDK is not intended for:

  • Creating or updating content entries
  • Editorial workflows
  • Querying published content

For content operations, use the Content API.

#Next steps