Snaplet makes it super easy to set up a mock version of your production database for testing environments. Here we'll give you a quick run down of how our tool works, and how you go about tranforming your data.
Create your team on app.snaplet.dev
Step1. Connect your database
You start by connecting Snaplet to your production database with read-only access (we never write or modify your database and recommend you provide us with read-only access). First-time users can trial the process with a test database that we provide.
Snaplet verifies your database credentials and takes you to our "data editor", where you have the option to eliminate large or unnecessary tables. You generally don’t need tables that contain logs during development, for example. Excluded tables retain their schema, but the data will be removed, resulting in smaller snapshot sizes and reduced restoration time.
Step2. Transform your data
Whilst you’re shedding weight by excluding trivial tables, Snaplet looks for personally identifiable information (PII) in the remaining tables. We then provide mock alternatives for sensitive data for you to review and approve. You also have the option to manually edit or create your own mock data replacements.
Step3. Install our CLI
When you’re happy with the transformations, you're ready to make a Snapshot. The Snapshot is a mock version of the original cloud-hosted production database. Snaplet makes a snapshot of that mock version every day so you can pull down a cleaned, up-to-date and anonymised version of that database (only available for Early Adopter & Enterprise Plans). To restore snapshots on your development computer you need to install and run the Snaplet CLI.
Step4. Restore a snapshot
Once you have done your setup, you can also make Snapshots directly through the CLI by typing [snapshot restore --new].
On the Snaplet interface, you can navigate between teams and data sources (database connections) on the navigation tab on the left. From here you can also view snapshots, edit the tables and columns in the data editor and rename or reconnect a database in the settings tab.
By now, you might be wondering how we work with your data. It's quite simple. When we create a snapshot of your data, a containerized worker is launched. It decrypts your database credentials, connects to your database and grabs your schema. Your data is transformed row-by-row, in memory, according to the settings you provide in the data editor. The transformed snapshots are uploaded to an encrypted, and private bucket where they await restoration from the CLI. Afterwards, the container is shut down and destroyed.
As you can see, working with Snaplet is easy, fast and safe. This makes testing and debugging simpler and more robust–especially when working with databases that contain sensitive personal information. To guide you through the process, Snappy will be there to give you hints and instructions. You can also click on the support tab at the bottom and chat with us directly.
We’re always happy to help.
Nice, now you can have your pie and eat it. See you in the dashboard!
