Re: Synchronizing the schema of two PostgreSQL databases

Thank you for the insight Lacey. Now I have another question. If anyone is familiar with Apple's Final Cut Server program, you may know that it uses PostgreSQL for its backend database. My question then becomes "If one were to be using this Final Cut Server program, would there be any way to listen in on the SQL happenings so that I could capture any changes made to the schema of the database?" (and then later paste them into a begin/commit block) And again, I realize that these are obscure questions, but I've got to take a shot at it... Thanks again in advance.

Jason Stelzel
postgreslist(at)epigraf(dot)com

----- Original Message -----
From: Lacey Powers
To: Jason Stelzel
Cc: pgsql-novice(at)postgresql(dot)org
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: [NOVICE] Synchronizing the schema of two PostgreSQL databases

Hello Jason,

Welcome to the list. =)

Keeping schemas synchronized is a difficult task.

You will definitely want a process for this, and a version control system like SVN or Mercurial to help keep track of the files and changes, since this could get quite complicated quite quickly.

I'd recommend two people at most, with a process that has to be followed and apply the changes as patch sets, rather than dump the whole schema every time.

BEGIN;
ALTER TABLE foo ALTER COLUMN bar <type>;
COMMIT;

With a designated primary and secondary database.

I'm sure you get the idea. =)

Additionally, you may find a tool that you like in here:

http://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/Community_Guide_to_PostgreSQL_GUI_Tools

As for your other questions, there is a concept of a database not having a password, but it has some serious caveats associated with it.

You can read more about it here.

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/interactive/auth-pg-hba-conf.html

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/interactive/auth-methods.html#AUTH-TRUST

If you don't want to continually enter a password, it is better to use the .pgpass or pgpass.conf

http://www.pgadmin.org/docs/1.4/pg/libpq-pgpass.html

I hope this helps. =)

Lacey

Hello, (my first post to this list)

I'm trying to figure out if there is any easy way to keep the schema of two totally separate databases synchronized. And by that, I mean that if a column is added to one database, is there an easy way to automagically have the other database also include that added column (and vice versa)? I was thinking of something along the lines of capturing the confirmation commands that postgres spits out when a change is made to the database and somehow "playing those commands back" to the other database. Another approach might be to "backup" a schema-only representation of a table and then "restore" it to the other database. I realize that this may be a strange application of pgsql (I can hear people asking right now "Why don't you just use a single database and separate the uses logically?") but this is the requirement I've been tasked with and I understand the application needs as being valid. Thanks in advance for any guidance anyone can provide.

Also, is there a concept of a postgres database not having a password? I was using a system which did not require a password (meaning the password field was empty when connecting to it) and the application that accesses it did a conversion of the database to a newer version and now I am locked out of it (using pgAdmin III).

Jason Stelzel
postgreslist(at)epigraf(dot)com

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Lacey Powers

The PostgreSQL Company - Command Prompt, Inc. 1.503.667.4564 ext 104
PostgreSQL Replication, Consulting, Custom Development, 24x7 support

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