feat(bun): generate native Go array slices for PostgreSQL array columns

Bun's pgdialect scans/appends native slices directly, so array columns
(text[], integer[], uuid[], ...) always generate as plain []string,
[]int32, etc. with an explicit "array" bun tag, regardless of --types
(sqltypes/stdlib/baselib). The SqlXxxArray wrapper types are no longer
used for Bun array columns (gorm is unaffected and keeps using them).

Adds --array-nullable pointer_slice to represent nullable array columns
as *[]T instead of []T, so callers can distinguish SQL NULL (nil) from
'{}' (pointer to an empty slice). Verified end-to-end against a live
PostgreSQL instance for NULL/{}/populated arrays in every --types mode.

Closes #13

pkg/writers/bun/README.md

@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ import (
 type User struct {
     bun.BaseModel `bun:"table:users,alias:u"`
 
-    ID        int64                     `bun:"id,type:uuid,pk," json:"id"`
-    Username  string                    `bun:"username,type:text,notnull," json:"username"`
-    Email     sql_types.SqlString       `bun:"email,type:text,nullzero," json:"email"`
-    Tags      sql_types.SqlStringArray  `bun:"tags,type:text[],default:'{}',notnull," json:"tags"`
-    CreatedAt sql_types.SqlTimeStamp    `bun:"created_at,type:timestamptz,default:now(),notnull," json:"created_at"`
+    ID        int64                  `bun:"id,type:uuid,pk," json:"id"`
+    Username  string                 `bun:"username,type:text,notnull," json:"username"`
+    Email     sql_types.SqlString    `bun:"email,type:text,nullzero," json:"email"`
+    Tags      []string               `bun:"tags,type:text[],array,default:'{}',notnull," json:"tags"`
+    CreatedAt sql_types.SqlTimeStamp `bun:"created_at,type:timestamptz,default:now(),notnull," json:"created_at"`
 }
 ```
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ type User struct {
     ID        string         `bun:"id,type:uuid,pk," json:"id"`
     Username  string         `bun:"username,type:text,notnull," json:"username"`
     Email     sql.NullString `bun:"email,type:text,nullzero," json:"email"`
-    Tags      []string       `bun:"tags,type:text[],default:'{}',notnull," json:"tags"`
+    Tags      []string       `bun:"tags,type:text[],array,default:'{}',notnull," json:"tags"`
     CreatedAt time.Time      `bun:"created_at,type:timestamptz,default:now(),notnull," json:"created_at"`
 }
 ```
@@ -145,11 +145,17 @@ The nullable type package is selected with `--types` (or `WriterOptions.Nullable
 | `numeric`, `decimal` | `float64` | `SqlFloat64` | `sql.NullFloat64` |
 | `uuid` | `string` | `SqlUUID` | `sql.NullString` |
 | `jsonb` | `string` | `SqlJSONB` | `sql.NullString` |
-| `text[]` | `SqlStringArray` | `SqlStringArray` | `[]string` |
-| `integer[]` | `SqlInt32Array` | `SqlInt32Array` | `[]int32` |
-| `uuid[]` | `SqlUUIDArray` | `SqlUUIDArray` | `[]string` |
+| `text[]` | `[]string`† | `[]string`† | `[]string`† |
+| `integer[]` | `[]int32`† | `[]int32`† | `[]int32`† |
+| `uuid[]` | `[]string`† | `[]string`† | `[]string`† |
 | `vector` | `SqlVector` | `SqlVector` | `[]float32` |
 
+† Array columns always use a plain native Go slice with an explicit `array`
+bun tag (`bun:"tags,type:text[],array,..."`), in every `--types` mode — the
+`SqlXxxArray` wrapper types are never used, since bun's pgdialect scans/appends
+native slices directly. Regardless of NOT NULL, unless `--array-nullable
+pointer_slice` is set — see [NullableArrays](#nullablearrays) below.
+
 \* In sqltypes mode, NOT NULL timestamps use `SqlTimeStamp` (not `time.Time`) unless the base type is a simple integer or boolean. In stdlib mode, NOT NULL timestamps use `time.Time`.
 
 ## Writer Options
@@ -174,6 +180,34 @@ options := &writers.WriterOptions{
 }
 ```
 
+### NullableArrays
+
+Controls how nullable PostgreSQL array columns are represented in stdlib/baselib
+`--types` mode (no effect in `sqltypes` mode, which always uses the `SqlXxxArray`
+wrapper types). Set via the `--array-nullable` CLI flag or `WriterOptions.NullableArrays`:
+
+```go
+// Default: every array column is a plain slice, e.g. []string.
+// SQL NULL and '{}' both scan into a nil/zero-length slice, so callers
+// cannot distinguish them.
+options := &writers.WriterOptions{
+    NullableArrays: writers.NullableArraysSlice,
+}
+
+// Nullable array columns become a pointer to a slice, e.g. *[]string.
+// A nil pointer means SQL NULL; a non-nil pointer to an empty slice
+// means '{}'. NOT NULL array columns are unaffected and stay plain slices.
+options := &writers.WriterOptions{
+    NullableArrays: writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice,
+}
+```
+
+```
+tags []string   `bun:"tags,type:text[],notnull,"`   // NOT NULL, either mode
+tags []string   `bun:"tags,type:text[],nullzero,"`   // nullable, default (slice)
+tags *[]string  `bun:"tags,type:text[],nullzero,"`   // nullable, pointer_slice
+```
+
 ### Metadata Options
 
 ```go
@@ -248,7 +282,7 @@ Example `extra-fields.json`:
 - Model names are derived from table names (singularized, PascalCase)
 - Table aliases are auto-generated from table names
 - Nullable columns use plain Go pointer types (`*string`, `*time.Time`, …) by default; pass `--types sqltypes` to use `sql_types.SqlString`, `sql_types.SqlTimeStamp`, etc., or `--types stdlib` to use `sql.NullString`, `sql.NullTime`, etc.
-- Array columns use plain Go slices (`[]string`, `[]int32`, …) by default; `--types sqltypes` uses `sql_types.SqlStringArray`, `sql_types.SqlInt32Array`, etc.
+- Array columns always use plain Go slices (`[]string`, `[]int32`, …) with an explicit `array` bun tag, regardless of `--types`; pass `--array-nullable pointer_slice` to use `*[]string` etc. for nullable array columns.
 - Multi-file mode: one file per table named `sql_{schema}_{table}.go`
 - Generated code is auto-formatted
 - JSON tags are automatically added

pkg/writers/bun/array_integration_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+package bun_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	_ "github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/stdlib"
+	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
+	"github.com/uptrace/bun/dialect/pgdialect"
+)
+
+// TestBunArrayColumns_NativeSlice verifies against a live PostgreSQL
+// database (issue #13) that RelSpec's generated Bun array tags round-trip
+// correctly through Bun's own pgdialect for both NOT NULL and nullable
+// columns: NULL, '{}', and populated arrays must all scan and insert
+// without a "bun: Scan(unsupported ...)" error.
+//
+// Requires the RELSPEC_TEST_PG_CONN environment variable, e.g.:
+//
+//	RELSPEC_TEST_PG_CONN="postgres://postgres:postgres@localhost:5432/relspec_test?sslmode=disable"
+func TestBunArrayColumns_NativeSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	connStr := os.Getenv("RELSPEC_TEST_PG_CONN")
+	if connStr == "" {
+		t.Skip("Skipping Bun array integration test: RELSPEC_TEST_PG_CONN environment variable not set")
+	}
+
+	sqldb, err := sql.Open("pgx", connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open connection: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer sqldb.Close()
+
+	db := bun.NewDB(sqldb, pgdialect.New())
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	type notNullArrayRow struct {
+		bun.BaseModel `bun:"table:relspec_test_arr_notnull"`
+		ID            int64    `bun:"id,pk,autoincrement"`
+		Tags          []string `bun:"tags,type:text[],notnull"`
+	}
+
+	type nullableArrayRow struct {
+		bun.BaseModel `bun:"table:relspec_test_arr_nullable"`
+		ID            int64     `bun:"id,pk,autoincrement"`
+		Tags          *[]string `bun:"tags,type:text[]"`
+	}
+
+	if _, err := db.NewDropTable().Model((*notNullArrayRow)(nil)).IfExists().Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("drop table: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := db.NewDropTable().Model((*nullableArrayRow)(nil)).IfExists().Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("drop table: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := db.NewCreateTable().Model((*notNullArrayRow)(nil)).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create not-null table: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := db.NewCreateTable().Model((*nullableArrayRow)(nil)).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create nullable table: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		db.NewDropTable().Model((*notNullArrayRow)(nil)).IfExists().Exec(ctx)
+		db.NewDropTable().Model((*nullableArrayRow)(nil)).IfExists().Exec(ctx)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("not null populated array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		row := &notNullArrayRow{Tags: []string{"a", "b", "c"}}
+		if _, err := db.NewInsert().Model(row).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert: %v", err)
+		}
+		var out notNullArrayRow
+		if err := db.NewSelect().Model(&out).Where("id = ?", row.ID).Scan(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+		}
+		if len(out.Tags) != 3 || out.Tags[0] != "a" || out.Tags[2] != "c" {
+			t.Errorf("Tags = %v, want [a b c]", out.Tags)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("not null empty array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		row := &notNullArrayRow{Tags: []string{}}
+		if _, err := db.NewInsert().Model(row).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert: %v", err)
+		}
+		var out notNullArrayRow
+		if err := db.NewSelect().Model(&out).Where("id = ?", row.ID).Scan(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+		}
+		if len(out.Tags) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("Tags = %v, want empty", out.Tags)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("nullable NULL", func(t *testing.T) {
+		row := &nullableArrayRow{Tags: nil}
+		if _, err := db.NewInsert().Model(row).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert: %v", err)
+		}
+		var out nullableArrayRow
+		if err := db.NewSelect().Model(&out).Where("id = ?", row.ID).Scan(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+		}
+		if out.Tags != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Tags = %v, want nil (SQL NULL)", *out.Tags)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("nullable empty array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		empty := []string{}
+		row := &nullableArrayRow{Tags: &empty}
+		if _, err := db.NewInsert().Model(row).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert: %v", err)
+		}
+		var out nullableArrayRow
+		if err := db.NewSelect().Model(&out).Where("id = ?", row.ID).Scan(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+		}
+		if out.Tags == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Tags = nil, want non-nil pointer to empty slice")
+		}
+		if len(*out.Tags) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("Tags = %v, want empty slice", *out.Tags)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("nullable populated array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tags := []string{"x", "y"}
+		row := &nullableArrayRow{Tags: &tags}
+		if _, err := db.NewInsert().Model(row).Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert: %v", err)
+		}
+		var out nullableArrayRow
+		if err := db.NewSelect().Model(&out).Where("id = ?", row.ID).Scan(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+		}
+		if out.Tags == nil || len(*out.Tags) != 2 || (*out.Tags)[0] != "x" {
+			t.Errorf("Tags = %v, want [x y]", out.Tags)
+		}
+	})
+}

pkg/writers/bun/type_mapper.go

@@ -13,26 +13,37 @@ import (
 type TypeMapper struct {
 	sqlTypesAlias string
 	typeStyle     string // writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes | writers.NullableTypeStdlib | writers.NullableTypeBaselib
+	arrayNullable string // writers.NullableArraysSlice | writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice
 }
 
 // NewTypeMapper creates a new TypeMapper.
 // typeStyle should be writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes, writers.NullableTypeStdlib, or
 // writers.NullableTypeBaselib; an empty string defaults to baselib.
-func NewTypeMapper(typeStyle string) *TypeMapper {
+// arrayNullable should be writers.NullableArraysSlice or
+// writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice; an empty string defaults to slice.
+func NewTypeMapper(typeStyle, arrayNullable string) *TypeMapper {
 	if typeStyle == "" {
 		typeStyle = writers.NullableTypeBaselib
 	}
+	if arrayNullable == "" {
+		arrayNullable = writers.NullableArraysSlice
+	}
 	return &TypeMapper{
 		sqlTypesAlias: "sql_types",
 		typeStyle:     typeStyle,
+		arrayNullable: arrayNullable,
 	}
 }
 
 // SQLTypeToGoType converts a SQL type to its Go equivalent.
 func (tm *TypeMapper) SQLTypeToGoType(sqlType string, notNull bool) string {
-	// Array types are handled separately for both styles.
+	// Array columns always use a native Go slice, regardless of typeStyle.
 	if pgsql.IsArrayType(sqlType) {
-		return tm.arrayGoType(tm.extractBaseType(sqlType))
+		goType := tm.arrayGoType(tm.extractBaseType(sqlType))
+		if !notNull && tm.arrayNullable == writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice {
+			goType = "*" + goType
+		}
+		return goType
 	}
 
 	baseType := tm.extractBaseType(sqlType)
@@ -186,70 +197,15 @@ func (tm *TypeMapper) bunGoType(sqlType string) string {
 	return tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlString"
 }
 
-// pgArrayInternalTypeName returns PostgreSQL's internal array type name
-// (e.g. "_text" for text[]) for the given canonical base element type.
-//
-// This is used instead of the "text[]" spelling in the sqltypes-style bun
-// tag: bun's pgdialect unconditionally overrides Field.Scan/Append with its
-// own array handling whenever the tag's "type:" value ends in "[]" (see
-// pgdialect.Dialect.onField), which clobbers the sql.Scanner/driver.Valuer
-// implemented on the SqlXxxArray wrapper types and causes
-// "bun: Scan(unsupported sqltypes.SqlXxxArray)" errors at query time. The
-// underscore-prefixed internal name is a real, DDL-valid PostgreSQL type
-// name that doesn't end in "[]", so it sidesteps the override.
-func (tm *TypeMapper) pgArrayInternalTypeName(baseElemType string) string {
-	typeMap := map[string]string{
-		"text": "_text", "varchar": "_varchar",
-		"char": "_bpchar", "character": "_bpchar", "bpchar": "_bpchar",
-		"citext": "_citext",
-		"inet":   "_inet", "cidr": "_cidr", "macaddr": "_macaddr",
-		"json": "_json", "jsonb": "_jsonb",
-		"integer": "_int4", "int": "_int4", "int4": "_int4", "serial": "_int4",
-		"smallint": "_int2", "int2": "_int2", "smallserial": "_int2",
-		"bigint": "_int8", "int8": "_int8", "bigserial": "_int8",
-		"real": "_float4", "float4": "_float4",
-		"double precision": "_float8", "float8": "_float8",
-		"numeric": "_numeric", "decimal": "_numeric",
-		"money":   "_money",
-		"boolean": "_bool", "bool": "_bool",
-		"uuid": "_uuid",
-	}
-	if pgType, ok := typeMap[baseElemType]; ok {
-		return pgType
-	}
-	return "_text"
-}
-
 // arrayGoType returns the Go type for a PostgreSQL array column.
 // The baseElemType is the canonical base type (e.g. "text", "integer").
+//
+// Array columns always use a plain native Go slice, even in sqltypes mode:
+// bun's pgdialect scans native slices directly, and the SqlXxxArray wrapper
+// types are not usable as array columns (their Scan/Append are bypassed
+// whenever the "array" bun tag is set, which is required for arrays).
 func (tm *TypeMapper) arrayGoType(baseElemType string) string {
-	if tm.typeStyle == writers.NullableTypeStdlib || tm.typeStyle == writers.NullableTypeBaselib {
-		return tm.stdlibArrayGoType(baseElemType)
-	}
-	typeMap := map[string]string{
-		"text": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray", "varchar": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"char": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray", "character": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"citext": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray", "bpchar": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"inet": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray", "cidr": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"macaddr": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"json":    tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray", "jsonb": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray",
-		"integer": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt32Array", "int": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt32Array",
-		"int4": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt32Array", "serial": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt32Array",
-		"smallint": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt16Array", "int2": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt16Array",
-		"smallserial": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt16Array",
-		"bigint":      tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt64Array", "int8": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt64Array",
-		"bigserial": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlInt64Array",
-		"real":      tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat32Array", "float4": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat32Array",
-		"double precision": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat64Array", "float8": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat64Array",
-		"numeric": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat64Array", "decimal": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat64Array",
-		"money":   tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlFloat64Array",
-		"boolean": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlBoolArray", "bool": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlBoolArray",
-		"uuid": tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlUUIDArray",
-	}
-	if goType, ok := typeMap[baseElemType]; ok {
-		return goType
-	}
-	return tm.sqlTypesAlias + ".SqlStringArray"
+	return tm.stdlibArrayGoType(baseElemType)
 }
 
 // rawGoType returns the plain Go type for a NOT NULL column in stdlib mode.
@@ -394,11 +350,8 @@ func (tm *TypeMapper) BuildBunTag(column *models.Column, table *models.Table) st
 				typeStr = fmt.Sprintf("%s(%d)", typeStr, column.Precision)
 			}
 		}
-		if isArray && tm.typeStyle == writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes {
-			typeStr = tm.pgArrayInternalTypeName(tm.extractBaseType(typeStr))
-		}
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("type:%s", typeStr))
-		if isArray && tm.typeStyle == writers.NullableTypeStdlib {
+		if isArray {
 			parts = append(parts, "array")
 		}
 	}

pkg/writers/bun/writer.go

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type Writer struct {
 func NewWriter(options *writers.WriterOptions) *Writer {
 	w := &Writer{
 		options:    options,
-		typeMapper: NewTypeMapper(options.NullableTypes),
+		typeMapper: NewTypeMapper(options.NullableTypes, options.NullableArrays),
 		config:     LoadMethodConfigFromMetadata(options.Metadata),
 	}
 

pkg/writers/bun/writer_test.go

@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ func TestWriter_FieldNameCollision(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTypeMapper_SQLTypeToGoType_Bun(t *testing.T) {
-	mapper := NewTypeMapper("")
+	mapper := NewTypeMapper("", "")
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		sqlType string
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ func TestWriter_StringPrimaryKeyHelpers_Bun(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag(t *testing.T) {
-	mapper := NewTypeMapper("")
+	mapper := NewTypeMapper("", "")
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name   string
@@ -827,65 +827,78 @@ func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag(t *testing.T) {
 					t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, missing %q", result, part)
 				}
 			}
-			// baselib mode must NOT add "array" — the Go type is already a
-			// real slice ([]string, []int32, ...), which bun's pgdialect
-			// scans natively without the explicit "array" tag option.
-			if strings.Contains(result, ",array,") || strings.HasSuffix(result, ",array,") {
-				t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, must not contain 'array' in baselib mode", result)
+			// Array columns always carry the "array" tag, telling bun's
+			// pgdialect to scan/append the native Go slice as a PostgreSQL array.
+			if strings.HasSuffix(tt.column.Type, "[]") && !strings.Contains(result, ",array,") {
+				t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, expected 'array' tag", result)
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 
-// TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_SqlTypesArrayUsesInternalTypeName verifies that
-// array columns in sqltypes mode never produce a "[]"-suffixed "type:" tag.
-// bun's pgdialect unconditionally overrides Field.Scan/Append with its own
-// (slice-only) array handling whenever the tag's "type:" value ends in "[]",
-// which clobbers the sql.Scanner/driver.Valuer implemented on the
-// SqlXxxArray wrapper types and produces
-// "bun: Scan(unsupported sqltypes.SqlXxxArray)" at query time.
-func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_SqlTypesArrayUsesInternalTypeName(t *testing.T) {
-	mapper := NewTypeMapper(writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes)
+// TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_ArraysAreNativeInEveryMode verifies that array
+// columns always use a plain "text[]"-style type and the native Go slice
+// type plus an explicit "array" tag, regardless of NullableTypes style
+// (sqltypes/stdlib/baselib). bun's pgdialect scans/appends native slices
+// directly; the SqlXxxArray wrapper types are never used for array columns.
+func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_ArraysAreNativeInEveryMode(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, style := range []string{writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes, writers.NullableTypeStdlib, writers.NullableTypeBaselib} {
+		t.Run(style, func(t *testing.T) {
+			mapper := NewTypeMapper(style, "")
 
-	cases := []struct {
-		name       string
-		column     *models.Column
-		wantSubstr string
-	}{
-		{name: "text array", column: &models.Column{Name: "tags", Type: "text[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:_text,"},
-		{name: "varchar array", column: &models.Column{Name: "labels", Type: "varchar[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:_varchar,"},
-		{name: "integer array", column: &models.Column{Name: "scores", Type: "integer[]", NotNull: true}, wantSubstr: "type:_int4,"},
-		{name: "boolean array", column: &models.Column{Name: "flags", Type: "boolean[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:_bool,"},
-		{name: "uuid array", column: &models.Column{Name: "ids", Type: "uuid[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:_uuid,"},
-	}
-	for _, tt := range cases {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			result := mapper.BuildBunTag(tt.column, nil)
-			if !strings.Contains(result, tt.wantSubstr) {
-				t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, missing %q", result, tt.wantSubstr)
+			cases := []struct {
+				name       string
+				column     *models.Column
+				wantSubstr string
+			}{
+				{name: "text array", column: &models.Column{Name: "tags", Type: "text[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:text[],array,"},
+				{name: "varchar array", column: &models.Column{Name: "labels", Type: "varchar[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:varchar[],array,"},
+				{name: "integer array", column: &models.Column{Name: "scores", Type: "integer[]", NotNull: true}, wantSubstr: "type:integer[],array,"},
+				{name: "boolean array", column: &models.Column{Name: "flags", Type: "boolean[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:boolean[],array,"},
+				{name: "uuid array", column: &models.Column{Name: "ids", Type: "uuid[]"}, wantSubstr: "type:uuid[],array,"},
 			}
-			if strings.Contains(result, "[]") {
-				t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, must not use a \"[]\"-suffixed type in sqltypes mode", result)
+			for _, tt := range cases {
+				t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+					result := mapper.BuildBunTag(tt.column, nil)
+					if !strings.Contains(result, tt.wantSubstr) {
+						t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, missing %q", result, tt.wantSubstr)
+					}
+					goType := mapper.SQLTypeToGoType(tt.column.Type, tt.column.NotNull)
+					if strings.Contains(goType, "sql_types") {
+						t.Errorf("SQLTypeToGoType() = %q, array columns must use a native Go slice, not an sql_types wrapper", goType)
+					}
+				})
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 
-func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_StdlibArrayHasArrayTag(t *testing.T) {
-	mapper := NewTypeMapper(writers.NullableTypeStdlib)
-
+// TestTypeMapper_SQLTypeToGoType_ArrayNullable verifies that nullable array
+// columns become a pointer-to-slice when NullableArrays is
+// "pointer_slice", so callers can distinguish SQL NULL (nil pointer) from
+// '{}' (pointer to an empty slice); NOT NULL columns are unaffected.
+func TestTypeMapper_SQLTypeToGoType_ArrayNullable(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
-		name   string
-		column *models.Column
+		name          string
+		typeStyle     string
+		arrayNullable string
+		sqlType       string
+		notNull       bool
+		want          string
 	}{
-		{name: "text array", column: &models.Column{Name: "tags", Type: "text[]"}},
-		{name: "integer array", column: &models.Column{Name: "scores", Type: "integer[]", NotNull: true}},
+		{name: "baselib nullable slice (default)", typeStyle: writers.NullableTypeBaselib, arrayNullable: "", sqlType: "text[]", notNull: false, want: "[]string"},
+		{name: "baselib nullable pointer_slice", typeStyle: writers.NullableTypeBaselib, arrayNullable: writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice, sqlType: "text[]", notNull: false, want: "*[]string"},
+		{name: "baselib not null pointer_slice unaffected", typeStyle: writers.NullableTypeBaselib, arrayNullable: writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice, sqlType: "text[]", notNull: true, want: "[]string"},
+		{name: "stdlib nullable pointer_slice", typeStyle: writers.NullableTypeStdlib, arrayNullable: writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice, sqlType: "integer[]", notNull: false, want: "*[]int32"},
+		{name: "sqltypes nullable pointer_slice (arrays are always native)", typeStyle: writers.NullableTypeSqlTypes, arrayNullable: writers.NullableArraysPointerSlice, sqlType: "text[]", notNull: false, want: "*[]string"},
 	}
+
 	for _, tt := range cases {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			result := mapper.BuildBunTag(tt.column, nil)
-			if !strings.Contains(result, "array") {
-				t.Errorf("BuildBunTag() = %q, expected 'array' in stdlib mode", result)
+			mapper := NewTypeMapper(tt.typeStyle, tt.arrayNullable)
+			got := mapper.SQLTypeToGoType(tt.sqlType, tt.notNull)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("SQLTypeToGoType(%q, %v) = %q, want %q", tt.sqlType, tt.notNull, got, tt.want)
 			}
 		})
 	}
@@ -1052,7 +1065,7 @@ func TestExtraFields_InMultiFile(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTypeMapper_BuildBunTag_PreservesExplicitTypeModifiers(t *testing.T) {
-	mapper := NewTypeMapper("")
+	mapper := NewTypeMapper("", "")
 
 	col := &models.Column{
 		Name:      "embedding",