Definitely not good advice, regardless of what language or framework you're working with. If there's a solid migration tool available, it is definitely better t

Definitely not good advice, regardless of what language or framework you're working with. If there's a solid migration tool available, it is definitely better to use it. Aside from being a great habit to get into, South (or whatever other migration tool you want to use) will keep your database consistent and predictable to the framework. If you add or alter columns on your own, you run the risk of slight differences between what you've done and what the framework would've done left to its own devices. You may not have done anything wrong, but you don't want that inconsistency.