How do I Handle Database changes and port my data?

Question

Example, for web applications using Turbogears and SQLAlchemy. Every time I update my data model, I need to delete my database and recreate it.

Is there an easy way to update the production database?

Do I have to write a custom script that transfers all the production data into a new database model? Or is there an easier way to upgrade a production database?

Do you need to pull any of the existing data and import it into the recreated database? — Eric Snow, Aug 13 '10 at 07:32

Benjamin Wohlwend · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-13T12:56:47.130

4

These database changes are called schema migrations. For SQLAlchemy, sqlalchemy-migrate is the defacto standard. Other ORMs/abstraction layers have similar solutions, e.g. South for Django.

edited Aug 13 '10 at 12:56

answered Aug 13 '10 at 08:11

Benjamin Wohlwend

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 13 '10 at 07:33

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You can ALTER TABLE, i think that's the easiest way.

answered Aug 13 '10 at 07:33

bua

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How do I Handle Database changes and port my data?

2 Answers2