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In the realm of database management, the importance of version control cannot be overstated. It is the catalyst for a streamlined workflow, ensuring that modifications in the database are tracked, facilitating collaboration among team members, and providing a safety net for when things go awry. In this post, we will explore how GIT, a widely adopted version control system, can be effectively used for managing SQL objects. We will focus on technologies like SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, MySQL 5.7, DB2 11.1, and Azure SQL.

Using GIT for version control of SQL objects involves storing the SQL scripts that create database objects in a Git repository. This can be accomplished by exporting the scripts from the database and storing them in a separate directory for each database object type. The scripts would then be committed to a Git repository, creating a historical record of changes.

In SQL Server 2016 and 2017, the Generate Scripts Wizard can be used to create scripts for all database objects. The resulting scripts can be stored in a Git repository. For example, to generate scripts for all tables and views in a database, you would use the following steps: Right-click on the database, select Tasks, then Generate Scripts. In the wizard, select the specific database objects to be scripted, and generate the scripts.

In MySQL 5.7, the same can be achieved by using the mysqldump utility. Here's an example of how to script all tables and views in a database using mysqldump:

mysqldump -u [username] -p[password] [database_name] --no-data > /path/to/directory/tables_and_views.sql

For DB2 11.1, the db2look utility can be used to generate DDL statements for all database objects. The following command can be used to generate DDL for all tables and views in a database:

db2look -d [database_name] -e -o /path/to/directory/tables_and_views.sql

In Azure SQL, a similar approach can be taken by using the Generate Scripts Wizard in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to generate scripts for all tables and views in a database. The scripts can then be committed to a Git repository.

By keeping these SQL scripts in a Git repository, you can take advantage of all the benefits that version control offers. You can track changes over time, revert to a previous version of a database object if needed, and collaborate with other developers. It's a best practice that will keep your database development process organized and efficient.