Test-Driven Development of Relational Databases

  • Authors:
  • Scott W. Ambler

  • Affiliations:
  • IBM

  • Venue:
  • IEEE Software
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

Developers can use a test-driven development with database schema just as they use it with application code. Implementing test-driven database development (TDDD) involves three relatively simple steps: database refactoring, database regression testing, and continuous database integration. In database refactoring, developers make a simple change to a database to improve the design without changing its semantics. In database regression testing, they run a comprehensive test suite that validates the database regularly-ideally, whenever developers change the database schema or access the database in a different way. In continuous database integration, developers rebuild and retest the database schema whenever it changes. From a technical viewpoint, TDDD is straightforward. However, cultural challenges can make it difficult to adopt.