The document discusses how database comparison tools can help testers better understand the impact of their tests across backend databases. It introduces DB Compare, a new tool from CA Technologies for performing snapshot comparisons of database data. DB Compare allows testers to quickly identify changes across related database tables. When shown the actual backend impacts using DB Compare, testers often realize unintended consequences of their tests. The tool helps testers validate that tests produced the expected results for the right reasons. A demo is given of how DB Compare can be used for various testing scenarios like regression testing, data migration testing, and ETL testing.

1. World®
’16
Tech Talk: What Happened in the
Backend? The Power of DB Compare
Huw Price
VP of Application Delivery & Product Manager CA ARD – CA Technologies
DO5T07T
DEVOPS

2. 2 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
© 2016 CA. All rights reserved. All trademarks referenced herein belong to their respective companies.
The content provided in this CA World 2016 presentation is intended for informational purposes only and does not form any type of
warranty. The information provided by a CA partner and/or CA customer has not been reviewed for accuracy by CA.
For Informational Purposes Only
Terms of this Presentation

3. 3 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Abstract
A lot of testing, whether it’s automated or manual, focuses on inputting data into the front-end,
recording the result, and comparing it to an expected result. However, an action in the front-end
will typically have an impact across numerous components of a system, including multiple tables
in a back-end database. Testers require an understanding of how tables should be updated, in
order to validate that they got the right result for the right reason.
§ In the session you will see:
§ DB Compare, a new, high-performance database comparison utility for performing snapshot
comparisons between data.
§ How numerous visualizations can be used to quickly identify the exact changes that have
occurred across interdependent tables.
§ How DB Compare can be used by testers to identify the exact impact of their tests on the
back-end system.
When shown the impact of their tests in DB Compare, testers have frequently acknowledged to
us the unforeseen consequences of their tests. DB Compare can therefore provide a useful aid
for test teams to identify the actual result of their tests, comparing it to the expect results.
Huw Price
CA Technologies
VP, Application
Delivery, and Product
Manager, CA Agile
Requirements Designer

4. 4 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Agenda
UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES: A REAL-WORLD
MOST TESTERS STILL…
Q & A
TECHNICAL DEBT
DB COMPARE
DEMO
1
2
3
4
5
6

5. 5 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
A Real World Example of Unforeseen Consequences
https://www.linux.com/news/how-devops-failed-60k-users

6. 6 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Front
End
Results
Many Testers Still Hammer Data Into the Front End and
Record Results
Test Case
§ Is our expected result defined
properly? Do they match?
§ Did the right thing happen for the
right reason?
§ Do we actually know the actual
result?
What happened in the backend?

7. 7 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Do you know what impact your tests had in the front-
end and back-end?
Did you get the right result for the right reason – what about
observability?
We can have a look with DB Compare
Systems under test are too complex for any one subject matter expert, but the
documentation does help. Testers need to know that they got the right result for the
right reason, but must reckon with:
1. System dependencies? If I do this, what have I changed? If this test failed, what
needs fixing?
2. Observability: We cannot verify that we got the right outcome for the right reason
– for example, are two or more defects producing a false positive?

8. 8 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
DB Compare
§ Compare database snapshots (all or partial)
§ Analyze message traffic
§ Use it to understand how applications actually work and pay
off technical debt
§ Use it to capture actual results and compare it to your
expected results with all your actual results in one place
High Performance Data Base Comparison

9. 9 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Compare Database Snapshots
Start Test
Explore
Manual Test
Automated Test
End Test
Actual Results
Snapshot
Start Test
Application Under Test
DB Compare
DB Compare
Analyser
Automation
Framework
Assertions

10. 10 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Compare Database Snapshot – Focused Comparison
Start Test
Time 1
Explore
Manual Test
Automated Test
Actual Results
Snapshot
Time 1
Application Under Test DB Compare
DB Compare
Analyser
Automation
Framework
Assertions
End Test
Time 2
Snapshot
Time 2

11. 11 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
CA DB Compare
§ A versatile comparison tool that helps you understand how
applications work
§ Provides a structured approach to managing the comparison
of expected against actual results
§ A powerful tool to improve testing and support DevOps
High Performance Database Comparison

12. 12 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Source
Data-1
Transform TF1
Transform TF2
Transform TF3
Output
Data-1
Publish TF1
Publish TF2
Publish TF3
DM
Transformations
TF1-Expected TF2
TF2-Expected TF2
TF3-Expected TF3
DM Transformed Data
PASSED
PASSED
FAILED
DB Compare
Actual vs Expected
Actual Results
ETL Testing

13. 13 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Source
Data-1
Old Application
Version 10
Output
Data-1
Expected
SD1-ND1-OD1-OD2
SD1-ND1-OD1-OD2
TDM Transformed Data
PASSED
PASSED
FAILED
DB Compare
Actual vs Expected
New Source
Data-2
New Application
Version 1
Output
Data-2
Transform Data –
TF1
Transform Data –
TF2
Transform Data –
TF3
Migration Testing – Compare Data Between Old and New

14. 14 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Regression
Data-1
Old Application
Version 10
Output
Data-1
PACK1-E0-E1-E2
PACK2-E0-E1-E2
PACK3-E0-E1-E2
TDM
Regression Builder
PASSED
PASSED
FAILED
Covered Sets of
Conditions
Regression
Data-2
New Application
Version 1
Output
Data-2
Regression
Data-3
New Application
Version 2
Output
Data-3
Migration Testing – Regression Driven Comparison

15. 15 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Recommended Sessions
SESSION # TITLE DATE/TIME
DO5T08T
TechTalk: What is DDSI and How to Make Sense of Data-
Driven Service Image.
11/17/2016 at 3:45 pm
DO5X42S
TechVision: Test Data on Demand: Delivering the Right
Data, to the Right Place, at the Right Time
11/17/2016 at 4:30 pm
DO5T19S
Case Study: GM Financial Builds a Sustainable, Holistic,
Continuous Delivery Practice
11/17/2016 at 4:30 pm

16. 16 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
Stay connected at communities.ca.com
Thank you.

17. 17 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD
DevOps – Continuous Delivery
For more information on DevOps – Continuous Delivery, please
visit: http://cainc.to/PiTFpu