Database Testing Tools – TOAD
For multiple reasons, database testing is often overlooked by the majority of application testers. Some don’t have the experience, technical knowledge, or even the desire to worry about the database behind the applications they’re testing. But, like every other part of the application, databases can have their own issues and can certainly hinder performance if not optimized correctly. Also, one big bonus to a tester knowing how to access a database is the ease with which it can offer testing data.
There are a few database testing tools out there, but we’re looking at Toad today. Originally, Toad stood for “Tool for Oracle Application Developers”, but it’s grown into so much more than that. This multi-use tool can be used for most databases: MySQL, SQL, Oracle, Sybase, DB2, and many more. With it, you can both automate maintenance and optimize performance.
With the user-friendly interface, a user needs only basic database knowledge to be able to move efficiently through the tables to find or even create data. Instead of writing complicated queries, Toad lets you use a graphical interface so you can see the tables and their relationships with one another. In addition to this, the other feature useful for testers are the reports. For example, after running a series of application tests, it could be extremely useful to look at Toad reports to view how the database performed during those tests. Or, run some or all of the database health checks or scans simultaneously with applications tests and watch for any bottlenecks. Toad even has benchmark testing available, which would help immensely with load or performance testing.
Databases can be difficult to test unless it’s your specialty, but database testing tools like Toad certainly make it a lot easier.
About the Author
The author, Ruslan Desyatnikov, is the CEO & Founder of QA Mentor. He created QA Mentor to fill the gap he has witnessed in QA service providers during his near 20 years in QA. With Ruslan’s guidance, unique services and methodologies were developed at QA Mentor to aid clients in their QA difficulties while still offering a high ROI. Ruslan offers monthly seminars aimed at imparting his extensive testing knowledge that can be applied to start-ups as well as large companies. To learn more about QA Mentor and testing services please visit www.qamentor.com or contact Ruslan directly by sending email to rdesyatnikov@qamentor.com
Cross-platform tools like TOAD will always have a place in systems design because they cut across the learning curve when moving to a new environment. The problem is that platform-specialized tools will always be ahead in their own environment. It's roundabouts and swings. Having said that, I prefer TOAD to Oracle SQL Developer.
Tools like: ASH (must have), Spotlight (not sure if it's free though, is kinda demonstrative), PL/SQL Developer (not free, but useful for certain activities), OEM (which must be paid for even if using Toad, in order to view and correlate AWR-snapshots). And I do prefer Toad to it's analogs, that was not an offensive comment, so I still suggest everybody to use Toad along with other useful stuff :)
@Valentin, please elaborate on what do you mean "much more helpful tools". Helpful in what way? Yes, TOAD is not free and there are open source DB tools which can be used such as SQLite http://sqlitebrowser.org But they cant be compared with TOAD capabilities. Again, I am not stating TOAD is the best tool, I am just sharing my personal opinion on what I like based on my personal experience and QA Mentor experience in terms of database testing tools.
Toad is the most convinient (from my point of view) way to maintain databases, but hardly could it be found anywhere, because of its price. Although they require some knowledge, there are some free and much more helpful tools. Anyway, Toad won't do everything for u, so certain rdbms knowledge is still crucial for tuning.
TOAD is simple, straightforward, and no long learning curve--and the price is right.