Populating a database.
WHAT SEEDING IS
Filling a database with data, programmatically.
WHAT IT IS FOR
Reference data the application requires Sample data for development Consistent data for tests
WHAT REFERENCE DATA MEANS
Categories, statuses, countries, settings.
Things the application needs to function.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT
Seed it, so any environment can be created from nothing.
WHAT FACTORIES PROVIDE
Generating realistic records on demand, for development and testing.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Testing with realistic volume and awkward values reveals problems.
WHAT AWKWARD VALUES INCLUDE
Very long names Unusual characters Missing optional fields Boundary values
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Seed production with sample data Use real customer data in development
THAT SECOND POINT
If you must work with real data, anonymise it first.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
How to create a working environment from nothing.
WHAT THAT ENABLES
Anyone joining the project starting in minutes.
