In simple English
When you build software, you need test data that looks real. Production databases contain private customer details that you cannot share with developers. This tool copies your database and scrambles names, emails, and phone numbers. It leaves the table structure intact so your app still works. You can also shrink large databases so they fit on a laptop.
What it is
Greenmask is a command-line utility (a program you run from your terminal by typing text commands) that backs up, anonymises, and restores PostgreSQL and MySQL databases. It reads your database tables, transforms sensitive columns using rules you set, and writes out standard backup files.
What it is good for
Solo builders who need to give developers or staging servers a realistic copy of production data without leaking real user secrets.
- Replaces real user data with safe fake data automatically.
- Creates smaller database subsets for fast local development.
- Saves backups directly to local folders or cloud storage.
- Requires comfort with the command line and database configuration files.
- MySQL support is still in progress and less stable than PostgreSQL.
- Incorrectly configured masking rules can leave sensitive data exposed.
Writing custom database scrubbing scripts and manual pg_dump commands.
PostgreSQL (a powerful open-source SQL database)
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git clone git@github.com:GreenmaskIO/greenmask.git cd greenmask docker-compose run greenmask