I want to avoid (as much as possible) the situation where I'm averse to making a change to my database schema because of the effort that would be required to sync up dependent applications.

之所以要（尽量）避免更改数据库的schema，是因为如果不这样做就可能会影响到我的程序代码。

youdao

The stampede was partly an attempt to reduce the amount of capital banks needed to reserve against possible losses on such bonds, as well as an effort to avoid the wrath of risk-averse investors, executives say.

WSJ: European Disunion: Ties That Bound Europe Now Fraying