A great article Grant, especially as you also highlight the problematic areas too.
I think all of the issues stem from a single problem - you are being let down by your toolset.
Embarcadero doesn't do lookup data and both it and Red-Gate require you to massage the schema and data difference scripts before everything works ok. Also they force you to use an actual database as the source for discovering the changes. 'Wild West' is a very apt term for a shared development database as that is what it has been like on every project I've ever worked on. Are the developers responsible for hand coding upgrade scripts or do you use Embarcadero/Red-Gate to produce the diff script? If it is the latter then surely this part of the process is a total pain as you have to communicate on an object by object basis with the developers regarding what they actually want promoted and what is just gash (experimental) code?
The company I work for has a process that suffers from NONE of the problems that you have described as the starting position is that ALL of the SQL code that describes your database should be under Source Control and whoever modifies anything to do with the schema and lookup data must check their changes in. The only way changes then make it to QA or Staging is if they have come out of SourceSafe as a complete set of labelled scripts.
If you would like to learn more about what I do then please have a look at the information on www.dbghost.com. This is not an advert, I am simply offering a specific solution to your specifically stated problems. The only problem I ever have in convincing people of our approach is to get them to understand configuration management in the first place!
It is sad that a lot of shops simply adopt a whole load of manual, error prone processes and just resign themselves to the occasional bout of database chaos.
All I do all day long is think about database change management issues and how to make things easier for everyone - it's how I make a living.
Your process is fantastic you just need a world class tool to support it.
Great article Grant. along the same lines as migration, I'm curious if anyone has tried VersionStar yet (http://www.versionstar.com/) Again, not an advert but I'm trying to see if I should spend the time investigating it. From the screenshots, it looks to be every DBAs dream product for patch migration.
Brian
Yaniv - although I have clearly provided a link to my companies website and product I think my post was a genuine answer to the authors stated issues, mainly the problem of working out what changes in the 'Wild West' were actually required for promotion. Our method of using the familiar and easily generated SQL drop/create scripts, stored in the source control system, clearly addresses this problem head on.
What you have just posted is simply a blatant advert/feature list. How about actually taking the time to read the article, understand it in depth and suggest how your product may help alleviate the problems?
I don't hold the view that products shouldn't be mentioned in forums but I do religiously believe that posts must be completely on topic and answer any specific questions/issues raised either in the original article or the subsequent posts. Frankly I can't see what your product does over and above the other products currently owned and used by the author - make me a believer if you can.
Also, I think it is great that your product has a free version but please don't use red highlighting and exclamation marks - it just makes you look like a spammer.
I suggest you read up about forums and etiquette before making any further entries.
Yaniv - your latest post is much better.
You actually include some reasons for using your product that actually relate to the authors article.
You have also answered the other question regarding what your product offers that is significantly different.
Never assume anything - I have looked at your website and used your product but you have assumed that everyone else who reads this forum has.
My point is still valid - you must try to SPECIFICALLY answer any stated problems. Your product may well solve some of the authors problems, you just need to spend some time outlining how. Your original post didn't do this, your second post does.
As you mention it, I believe DB Ghost does offer a solution to the authors problems and I will, therefore, not be amending my post as I see nothing wrong with it.
Also, as your native language is Italian and you are posting on an English forum I'll assume you didn't really mean to use such a strong word as 'offensive'
Malcolm
