• Ignoring David's valid point of availability of Internet based services in this arena (it is a good point but I have nothing to add so I am awaiting others' posts), I think that it is essential that the database is considered a first class citizen. ALL code should be under version control. Ideally, database generation should be part of Continuous Integration (CI) even if this is only based on a baseline database and update scripts.

    There is no excuse for turning down a generous offer of someone backing up the database. Even if that means relinquishing a little control. I guess that leads neatly to a point I haven't seen covered: developers and DBAs need to learn to play together. As Steve said in the editorial, sometimes there is an offer to manage a system which is the "manufacturing environment for software". One one side the developers should eagerly accept this generous offer. On the other side the DBAs need to understand that developers do need greater access to the box (compared to a production database server).

    We need to work smarter. That means that we need to work together.

    Gaz

    -- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!