Chaos testing is a critical methodology used to enhance system resilience by simulating real-world failures to identify vulnerabilities within database systems, as demonstrated through a case study on YugabyteDB’s Change Data Capture (CDC) functionality. By creating controlled chaos, this approach helps uncover weaknesses that regular unit tests might miss, allowing for proactive improvements. The testing process involves setting up a robust environment using tools like Docker, employing various chaos scenarios such as server crashes and network disruptions, and conducting long-running tests to observe system behavior under stress. The insights gained from chaos testing have led to significant improvements in system resilience, revealing over 100 issues that were addressed to ensure data integrity, recovery, and performance. Chaos testing not only identifies potential breaking points but also fosters a mindset of continuous improvement and resilience in handling unexpected challenges, ultimately leading to a more reliable and trustworthy database system.