This presentation introduces and demonstrates Liquibase: a new Java tool to support automating database refactoring and deployment.

Agile Database tools and techniques have been evolving to catch up with the existing support for source code. Many projects struggle to keep external databases (and DBAs) in sync with rapidly changing and tested source development.

Support for Agile Database development needs to include tools support for the following areas:

• Database Refactorings
• Schema Version Control
• IDE Support
• Scripted tools (Ant, Maven, command line)

Liquibase is an LGPL–licensed Java tool for tracking, managing, and applying database changes. Liquibase enables the database schema, reference data, and data change scripts to be managed as effectively as source code on Agile projects:

• the CI build doesn't break from forgotten SQL script runs
• developers don't have to coordinate check–ins/outs with each other
• embedded or external databases can be managed with the same scripts
• databases can be automatically upgraded, or SQL generated for review

This presentation introduces these topics and demonstrates Liquibase with an example application showing Spring Framework, Ant, and continuous build integrations.

John D. Heintz