Database Deployment: Synchronizing Database Structures

Developing and deploying a new database is never easy. Manually synchronizing new revisions of database structures with an already running system can become a nightmare. If one's assignment includes modifications to the structure of an existing database, one's options of performing the task without disrupting the workflow are limited. The simplest and most obvious way of synchronizing two databases would be by deleting the old database and creating new structures on top of it. If one backs up the data before deleting the old database, and restore it from the backup after one has finished updating the structures, one might just get away with it. However, this approach is unacceptable in many environments as it disrupts the workflow and does not provide reasonable security.