Common database for live operation and testing of a website

A method for simultaneously running live data of a website in a website deployment environment while also running test data of the website in a non-public website testing environment, the method comprising:

• storing both the live data of the website and the test data of the website, wherein the test data coexists in the at least one common database with the live data;
• accessing the live data stored in the at least one common database;
• using the accessed live data to render the website in the website deployment environment;
• receiving a request to perform testing on the website while the website is live in the website deployment environment;
• accessing, in the at least one common database, a set of the live data and a set of the test data responsive to the request to render the website in the non-public website testing environment, the set of test data including one or more test data elements corresponding to respective live data elements, the set of live data including one or more live data elements having no corresponding test data elements, wherein the set of test data is not accessible in the website deployment environment;
• while the website is operating in the website deployment environment, testing the website in parallel in the non-public website testing environment such that both the set of test data and the set of live data are used simultaneously by the website in the non-public website testing environment;
• and
• wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a query initiated to the non-public website testing environment, respond to the query with one or more of the live data elements when the one or more live data elements are not associated with corresponding respective test data elements, and respond to the query with one or more of the test data elements when the one or more live data elements are associated with corresponding respective test data elements.

A computer-based system for simultaneously running test data of a visual application system in a non-public testing environment while also running live data of the visual application system in a deployment environment, the computer-based system comprising:

• at least one common database storing both the live data of the visual application system and the test data of the visual application system, wherein the test data coexists in the at least one common database with the live data;
• and at least one processor configured to:
• access the live data of the visual application system stored in the at least one common database;
• use the accessed live data of the visual application system in the deployment environment;
• receive a request to perform testing on the visual application system while the visual application system is live in the deployment environment;
• access, in the at least one common database, a set of the live data and a set of the test data responsive to the request to render the website in the non-public website testing environment, the set of test data including one or more test data elements corresponding to respective live data elements, the set of live data including one or more live data elements having no corresponding test data elements, wherein the set of test data is not accessible in the deployment environment;
• while the visual application system is in the deployment environment, test the visual application system in parallel in the non-public testing environment such that both the set of test data and the set of live data are used simultaneously by the visual application system in the non-public testing environment;
• and
• wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a query initiated in the non-public website testing environment, respond to the query with one or more of the live data elements when the one or more live data elements are not with one or more of the test data elements when the one or more live data elements are associated with corresponding respective test data elements.