Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

Skipper (computer software)

Skipper is a visualization tool and code/schema generator for PHP ORM frameworks like Doctrine2, Doctrine, Propel, and CakePHP, which are used to create database abstraction layer. Skipper is developed by Czech company Inventic, s.r.o. based in Brno, and was known as ORM Designer prior to rebranding in 2014.

Last revised
Jun 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
526 w
Citations
34
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Skipper (former ORM Designer)
DeveloperInventic, s.r.o.
Initial releaseDecember 2009
Operating systemCross-platform1
Available inEnglish, Czech
TypeVisualization software
LicenseProprietary software
Websitewww.skipper18.com

Skipper is a visualization tool and code/schema generator for PHP ORM frameworks like Doctrine2, Doctrine, Propel, and CakePHP, which are used to create database abstraction layer.2345 Skipper is developed by Czech company Inventic, s.r.o. based in Brno,2 and was known as ORM Designer prior to rebranding in 2014.6

Overview

  • Generates visual model from the schema definition files234
  • Repetitive import/export of schema definitions in supported formats (XML, YML, PHP annotations)234
  • Schema definition files are automatically generated from the visual model234
  • Visual representation uses ER diagram extended by concepts of inheritance and many-to-many234
  • Supports customization using .xml configuration files and JavaScript278
  • Does not support direct connections to the database9
  • Crude and simplistic visual representation and menus10

Architecture

Skipper was built on the Qt framework. Import/export of the schema definitions uses XSL transformations powered by LibXslt library. Imported source files are first converted to XML format: no conversion for XML, simple conversion for YML, creating the Abstract Syntax Tree and its subsequent conversion to XML for PHP annotations. The import/export scripts are configured in JavaScript and can be freely customized.11

Supported ORM frameworks

Frameworks supported for visual model and schema files generation:12

History

Skipper was created as an internal tool for the web applications developed by Inventic. It was first published as a commercial tool under the name ORM Designer in 2009.1314 Application was reworked and optimized in January 2013, and released as ORM Designer 2.1115 In May 2013 ORM Designer became part of the South Moravian Innovation Center Incubator program (support program for innovative technological startups).141617 In June 2014, ORM Designer version 3 was released and rebranded under the name of Skipper6

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Supported platforms Archived 2014-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "ORM Designer". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  3. "ORM Designer". 12 May 2010.
  4. "PHP5 Magazine: ORM Designer Reviewed". php5.phpmagazine.net. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  5. "Symfony2 cheat sheet". www.symfony2cheatsheet.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-03.
  6. "Press Release: Skipper Skipper - the ORM Designer Blog".
  7. "Extending ORM Attributes | ORM Designer". Archived from the original on 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  8. "Extending script files | ORM Designer". Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  9. "MySQL Workbench | ORM Designer". Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  10. "ORM Designer – Quick Review « Stacktrace('dev-KRTCS.net')". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  11. "Magic behind ORM Designer | ORM Designer Blog". Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  12. "Supported Platforms | ORM Designer". Archived from the original on 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  13. "New tool – ORM Designer | ORM Designer Blog". Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  14. "goaleurope.com/ORM-Designer-raises-funding-from-angel-investor". Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  15. "Mladí programátoři z Brna zdražili svůj software trojnásobně. Prodeje zůstaly stejné". 10 July 2013.
  16. "Do JIC Innovation parku se hlásí 41 firem, nejlepší vyberou Rostock, Všianský a Berdár". 12 March 2013.
  17. "Companies in the Innovation Park". Archived from the original on 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
External links