Install Liquibase

Starting with Liquibase version 4.32.0, we're improving how you download and install Liquibase.

In 4.32.0, we've introduced a new, dedicated Liquibase Pro-only download option. This experience is designed for mission-critical delivery, with built-in reliability, automation, and SLA-backed support. When you download the Liquibase Pro distribution, it includes supported drivers and prompts you for your license key to simplify your installation and configuration experience.

For our Liquibase OSS users (and Pro users who aren't ready to move to the new Liquibase Pro download), we continue to offer the classic download bundle that includes Liquibase OSS and unlocks Pro functionality by entering a valid Liquibase Pro license key.

Liquibase Pro implementation guide

To quickly get value from your Liquibase Pro purchase, we recommend that you follow the steps in Accelerating Your Liquibase Implementation:

1. Plan Your Implementation
2. Install Liquibase
3. Structure Your Changelog
4. Connect Liquibase to Your Database
5. Build Your Automation
6. Define Your Policies

Software installation

You can install Liquibase on Windows, MacOS, and Linux/Unix systems that meet the hardware and software Requirements:

• Install Liquibase on Windows
• Install Liquibase on macOS
• Install Liquibase on Linux/Unix
  • Install Liquibase on Linux with Debian/Ubuntu
  • Install Liquibase on Linux with Red Hat/CentOS

  If you'd prefer to use Docker, you can skip the download and installation steps go straight to Using Liquibase and Docker.

Software configuration

The Liquibase CLI ships with drivers for many popular database systems in the $LIQUIBASE_HOME/internal/lib directory, including:

• DB2
• H2
• HyperSQL
• Firebird
• MariaDB
• MS SqlServer
• Oracle
• PostgreSQL
• Snowflake
• SQLite

Tip: $LIQUIBASE_HOME is an environment variable that points to the location of the directory where Liquibase is installed on your machine. You can set environment variables using your operating system's shell. The location of $LIQUIBASE_HOME will depend on where Liquibase was installed on your machine.

If you are using a different database system or need to run a different version of the driver, you can download the appropriate driver from your vendor, and install it in one of two places:

• The lib directory of your Liquibase installation – Drivers added here will always be used by Liquibase
• A liquibase_libs directory of your current working directory – Drivers added here will only be used when you are in this working directory

If you are using any Liquibase extensions, they can be added to the same directories.

Manual library management

Liquibase comes with two JAR files in $LIQUIBASE_HOME/internal/lib serving as primary libraries:

• liquibase-core-4.33.0.jar
• liquibase-commercial-4.33.0.jar.

You need a commercial license key to access functionality for Liquibase Pro and other commercial add-ons. If you aren't using the liquibase-commercial JAR and want to exclude it from your project, navigate to $LIQUIBASE_HOME/internal/lib in your command line and manually remove the file:

Linux/macOS:

rm liquibase-commercial-4.33.0.jar

Windows:

del liquibase-commercial-4.33.0.jar

For more information about individual Liquibase files, see Liquibase Installation Files.

Software upgrades

Liquibase regularly releases new versions with additional features, which you can read about in the Liquibase Release Notes. To learn best practices about upgrading to newer versions of Liquibase, see Plan your Liquibase upgrade.

Troubleshooting

Need help? See Installation Troubleshooting.

Next steps

1. Introduction to Liquibase – Dive into Liquibase concepts
2. Get Started with Liquibase – Learn how to use Liquibase with an example database
3. Design Your Liquibase Project – Create a new Liquibase project folder and organize your changelogs
4. Liquibase Database Tutorials – Configure Liquibase to work with your own database
5. How to Apply Your Liquibase Pro License Key – If you use Liquibase Pro, activate your license