Save databases

[tannn]

One of the problems right now, while expected during testing, is that when changes are made to the database(s), it has to be dropped. While this is understandable, there should be a way for the plugin to allow exporting of the database so everything can be saved.

Possible Solutions

1. Exporting the database - export the user and question databases. After the upgrade is complete, questions can be added again while the user database will need to be imported. Is it possible to do this through the command line?
2. The plugin automatically identifies the database is outed/not compatible, then make the appropriate changes to make it compatible with the new version.

[thomassross]

OK, I will work on this ASAP. I think we will go with option 2

[rootcoma]

It is possible to update the tables without dropping them, what you are thinking of is called ALTER.

I can include the command line commands to ALTER the tables instead of needing to drop them if that is a priority.

Important note that this is easier to do for adding completely new columns than removing or changing columns names.

These 3 lines would have worked for the last update to the triviagames table

ALTER TABLE triviagames ADD COLUMN longest_streak integer;
ALTER TABLE triviagames ADD COLUMN longest_streak_holder text;
ALTER TABLE triviagames ADD COLUMN longest_streak_holder_canonical text;

Also you don't have to drop every table every time, last update only required triviagames to be dropped, which didn't hold scores or anything like that.

[thomassross]

yes, rootcoma, that's what I'm thinking of doing, all we need to do now is to have an update to fix. I think i'll leave a blank space for the updates and then PR that. Then the next time we update we add those lines.

[tannn]

I know TR worked on this a bit but is it finished or is more progress still needed?

[thomassross]

@tannn as soon as we have a db to update then it shall work!

[tannn]

@Th0masR0ss There's currently a database in SupyMonkey - so it's working now?

[thomassross]

@tannn no I meant when the database needs to be updated we will add code to update it automatically. This issue can be closed if you want.

[tannn]

@Th0masR0ss so the code won't be always present, in the event am update is made from an older version of the plugin?