Method for carrying out database version control

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed cause a local machine in a database development environment to perform a method, the database development environment including a master server storing a database, which is to be developed, the database on the master server constituting a master database;

• one or more local servers capable of storing a local copy of the database;
• a local machine, upon which database development can be performed, and a metadatabase, which can be accessed by at least the local machine;
• the method comprising:
• following a change made in the local copy of the database as part of the development process:
• obtaining the local copy of the database from the master server;
• providing a duplicate copy of the local copy in the local server, the duplicate copy constituting a reference copy of the database;
• deriving a script based on the state change;
• executing the script on the master database, thereby changing the state of the master database to reflect the state change in the local copy of the database;
• storing the script on the metadatabase;
• and
• storing a reverse script on the metadatabase in addition to the script, wherein reverse script can be executed on at least one of the master server and the local server to change the state of the respective master copy and local copy of the database to an earlier state, wherein
• the master server is marked to show that the master copy of the database has been changed in accordance with the script,
• the local server is marked to show that the local copy of the database has been changed in accordance with the script,
• the script is executed on the reference copy of the database,
• an ID is allocated to the script when the script is stored on the metadatabase, the ID identifying the script, and
• the marking is achieved by storing the script ID in a table in the master database and in a table in the local and reference copies of the database.

A database development environment, comprising:

• a local machine for use by a database developer;
• a master server storing a database, which is to be developed, the database on the master server constituting a master database;
• and
• one or more local servers capable of storing a local copy of the database, and a metadatabase, which can be accessed by at least the local machine;
• the local machine being provided with a program configured to cause to be performed, following a change made in the local copy of the database:
• obtaining the local copy of the database from the master server,
• providing a duplicate copy of the local copy in the local server, the duplicate copy constituting a reference copy of the database,
• deriving a script based on the state change,
• executing the script on the master database, thereby changing the state of the master database to reflect the state change in the local copy of the database, and
• storing the script on the metadatabase;
• and
• storing a reverse script on the metadatabase in addition to the script, wherein reverse script can be executed on at least one of the master server and the local server to change the state of the respective master copy and local copy of the database to an earlier state, wherein
• the master server is marked to show that the master copy of the database has been changed in accordance with the script,
• the local server is marked to show that the local copy of the database has been changed in accordance with the script,
• the script is executed on the reference copy of the database,
• an ID is allocated to the script when the script is stored on the metadatabase, the ID identifying the script, and
• the marking is achieved by storing the script ID in a table in the master database and in a table in the local and reference copies of the database.