Regardless of how standards-compliant/database-independent an application is, when the underlying database is migrated, changes need to be made to the application. In this chapter, we covered common challenges that come up during database migrations and how best to address them. Sufficient time needs to be allocated for the analysis and design phase in a database migration project, especially for schema design, issues such as null values handling, case sensitivity, and globalization requirements as they affect the application. Having a good understanding of all these issues will prepare you for challenges that may come up in a migration project. It is worth noting that all database migration efforts may not run into all the challenges mentioned earlier, but readers can have peace of mind knowing that they can anticipate challenges that may lie ahead.
Careful planning and awareness of potential issues and challenges go a long way in executing a database migration project successfully...