GitHub Actions for DBAs: Automating Oracle Database Scripts and Deployments
The schema deployment failed at 2 AM. Again. The junior DBA forgot to run the prerequisite script before the main DDL. The application team was furious. Rollback took three hours because we had to manually trace which changes had been applied.
That's when I realized: developers have been using CI/CD for years. Why are DBAs still running scripts manually?
GitHub Actions isn't just for application developers. DBAs can automate schema deployments, backup validation, monitoring scripts, and database testing using the same CI/CD principles—with workflows triggered automatically on git push, pull request, or schedule.
This guide covers production-tested GitHub Actions workflows for Oracle DBAs. If you're tired of manual script execution, inconsistent deployments, and "it worked on my machine" problems, these patterns will transform your database operations.