Develop. Test. Deploy.
In the typical software development lifecycle, if any step is going to get short-changed, it’s probably testing. Why? Because while writing tests is absolutely critical for ensuring that applications behave as expected, getting accurate, high-quality test data tends to be a proverbial pain in the behind.
Why is that though? Why is seed data for test databases such an overlooked component of the development process? It’s especially strange considering that the quality of test data isn't just a minor detail—it's the backbone of ensuring the tests for the application are valid, and that the application itself works as intended.
Seeding sucks
It’s an overlooked component because, let's face it, getting quality test data sucks. Whether it's manually populating databases with data that barely scratches the surface of realism, or wrestling with complex scripts that are as brittle as they are cumbersome, developers don’t have good options to reach for. (Don’t even get us started on dumping data from production.) And it's not just about the hassle - poor test data can lead to misleading test results, overlooked bugs, and a false sense of security.
Snaplet seed: the best way to seed a testing database
That’s why we’ve built Snaplet seed - it’s here to flip the script on traditional database seeding methods (get it?). Snaplet seed works by introspecting your schema, which means it understands the intricacies of your data and its relationships, enabling it to generate realistic, nuanced data sets with minimal input from you. We’ve set out to make seed declarative, minimalistic, and maintainable, so you can spend less time worrying about data to seed your test database, and more time watching your tests pass.
Automated realism in fewer lines of code
Imagine having a tool that not only fills your database with data, but ensures that this data mirrors the complexity and diversity of real-world scenarios. Snaplet seed does just that, allowing your tests to encounter and overcome the same challenges they would face in a live environment. Best of all, seed is able to do this with less developer effort and in a fraction of the lines of code a traditional script would require, meaning it’s much, much easier to maintain and update.
Privacy and compliance, no worries
In the age of GDPR and compliance legislation, privacy isn't just a preference; it's a mandate. Because Snaplet seed generates synthetic data, all your test data will comply with regulations like GDPR. Now, you can seed your databases without losing sleep over privacy concerns. The days of dumping data from production and having to manually sanitize it for testing are a distant (and unhappy) memory.
Seamless from setup to CI/CD
Integration headaches? A thing of the past. Snaplet seed slides into your existing workflows like it was always meant to be there, from local development to your CI/CD pipelines, making continuous testing not just possible, but effortless. You don’t even have to throw out your existing seed scripts if you don’t want to - seed is designed to plug into your existing data environments and go from there.
If you’re looking to improve the reliability of your tests, reaching for Snaplet seed makes perfect sense. By providing a straightforward way to seed tests with data that closely mirrors real-world scenarios, seed empowers developers to write, test, and deploy with confidence, in a fraction of the time associated with manually writing seed data.
Ready to elevate your database seeding strategy? Dive into Snaplet seed and discover how easy, efficient, and effective your testing can be. Because when it comes to developing great software, it's not just about the code—it's about the data, too.
More resources:
Watch Snaplet developer Khaya Zulu give a quick demo of Snaplet seed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MfItFmmeqU
Watch how to seed your Playwright tests with data using Snaplet seed:
https://youtu.be/NfxcGpKYTMs?si=qjPj0w6FCOrtD2OC
Learn more about the Snaplet seed concept.
