[mythtv-users] why change db stuff with every version change?

Robin Hill myth at robinhill.me.uk
Wed Nov 25 09:11:11 UTC 2009


On Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 12:08:39AM -0800, Evuraan wrote:

> <snip>
> .22 frontends will not work with .21 backends
> This version of MythTV requires an updated database.(schema is 30
> versions behind)
> </snip>
> 
> sounds too  familiar, I had to tear down my db & rebuild when i came
> from previous versions to 0.21 and seems the cycle repeats again.
> which makes wonder, why are we doing this to ourselves?
> 
Not sure what you mean - there's no need to "tear down the db" at all
(unless you've corrupted it previously).  The backend/setup programs
will update the schema automatically to the new one (as did previous
version updates).

> why cant we leave the db schema as it is?
> 
Beacuse new functionality needs backend support.  Extra tables are
required for storage groups for example.

> now if you have solid reasons to convince  that changes in db schema
> with every version change is good evolution supported by good reasons,
> pls treat this as a silly rant.
> 
> or at least, provide some sort of backward compatibiity so that the
> precious db of yester years continues to be of use with upstream
> versions w/o having to redo the db that'd be swell.
> 
This is a major maintenance problem - backward compatibility requires a
huge amount of complicated logic, workarounds, etc. which will increase
the likelihood of issues.

What's preventing you updating all the backends/frontends anyway?  It's
not like there's embedded systems which will need replacing at large
cost, it's just a software update.

Cheers,
    Robin
-- 
     ___        
    ( ' }     |       Robin Hill        <myth at robinhill.me.uk>  |
   / / )      | Little Jim says ....                            |
  // !!       |      "He fallen in de water !!"                 |
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