How are DB changes updated after I fetch new commits

[Senky]

Hi,
while thinking of process how could I manage another quite big project through the github, I realised I would like to create commits from live working localhost. It is not a problem to generate proper .gitignore not to include unwanted files in commits, however I realised sometimes also DB is updated.

As I try to use similar development process as phpBB uses, I started to think of this problem also with phpBB project.

Until now, I had not pushed any PR including DB changes, but I always developed them in this way: I have phpbb3/ directory on my localhost. It includes phpbb/phpbb repo. While developing for develop branch, I use config.php that connects to proper DB, and while developing for develop-olympus, it uses another config.php. I rename install/ directory so that I can use board, and before creating new commit, I rename it back to install/ so that it makes no harm.

With this proces, however, it is not possible to update DB if I download new commits my local repo is behind, or am I wrong?

How do you manage this? I did not meet with any complication, yet, however I cannot imagine how could I update my DB if needed. Is the reinstallation of board the only way?

Thanks for any reply!

[callumacrae]

When `DEBUG` (or possibly `DEBUG_EXTRA`, I dunno the difference) is set to true, the install directory is allowed to remain.

[Senky]

Wow it works! I did not know that, thanks!

Anyway, can anyone explain me that question related to DB updates when maintaining local board from git remote repo?

[naderman]

Can you explain what that question actually was?

[Senky]

Well. I am developing on local board which is acually working normally. Time to time, I download and merge all commits my local board is behind of remote repo (https://github.com/phpbb/phpbb3) to be up-to-date and not push some patches with outdated code.
However, sometimes new commits change structure of DB (new tables are added, etc.) and all changes to DB are written in the installation script. It is fine, however my local board is running already and I do not reinstall it every time I merge it with the upstream. This means, my DB structure may be outdated sometimes. And now the question: how phpBB deals with it? Am I to reinstall my local development board every time DB structure changes?

[nickvergessen]

you can just call install/database_update.php everytime you fetch new commits. Devs try to keep the file in a state, where you can run it as often as you like

[Senky]

Ah, okay, thanks for explanation!