A Practical Approach to Version Control for SQL Server Steve Jones SQLServerCentral Redgate Software

Goals Store database code in version control Track code changes across time Branch and merge changes to database code

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Free Tool Database Lifecycle Management

What is version control? …any kind of practice that tracks and provides control over changes to source code. Software developers sometimes use revision control software to maintain documentation and configuration files as well as source code. (Wikipedia) Source Control = Version Control = Revision Control

Use version control because neither you nor your developers are perfect.

Getting Started Create a location in a VCS respository Script out objects to.sql files Commit files

Workflow Check out or open a file Make changes (and test) Save and Commit

Demo – Setup in Git

Benefits Communication and collaboration History Undo Get back to previous versions Branching/merging Single version of the truth Building block for ALM

Demo – Changes, Migrations, and History

Teamwork Work should be logically separated Sandboxes should to be used Developers’ work should not conflict But sometimes we work on shared databases, and …

Everyone Wants Locking

Demo – Locking Objects and Conflicts

Branching

Example of branching and merging #SQLintheCityUK #SQLintheCityUS

Branches can be dangerous

#SQLintheCityUK #SQLintheCityUS Demo – Branching and merging

Finally Use a VCS, keep control of your code Ensure everyone has the tools Ensure everyone understands the process Write comments for the future you

Goals Store database code in version control Track code changes across time Branch and merge changes to database code

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