Database Management With CI/CD

The narrative highlights the evolution of database management from relying heavily on database administrators (DBAs) to a more automated and agile approach using Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD). Initially, the author recalls the dependency on a DBA for every database-related task, which led to bottlenecks and underutilization of the DBA's skills. The shift to CI/CD allows for automated database management, keeping schemas updated and tracking changes, freeing DBAs to focus on more strategic tasks like performance optimization and schema design. The text discusses various techniques to ensure safe database migrations, such as committing scripts to version control, using database management tools, and maintaining small, incremental changes. Decoupling application deployment from data migrations and setting up distinct pipelines for both processes enhance safety and efficiency. Additive changes are favored for their rollback safety, while testing techniques ensure compatibility and stability before production deployment. The overall message advocates for treating database scripts with the same rigor as application code, emphasizing version control and peer reviews to maintain speed, stability, and productivity in development processes.