具有默认用户的Spring MVC Web App

Question

I am developing a web app using Spring MVC and Hibernate that I hope to package up as a WAR file and distribute for users to deploy where needed.

The application will require the database connection details before deploying, can anyone advise on the best practice of how to do this? currently my database.properties file is packaged as part of the WAR file, is there an easier way than asking the user to manually edit this file inside the WAR file or in the source and then expect them to build the war file themselves?

I would also like an easy way for users to create a single admin user on first deploy easily - is it best to just provide a sql script to create that or is there a way to include the functionality in the web app so on first deploy it creates the user?

Thanks

Answer 1

Since web applications are not focused to "mass production", I can't tell if something like that is possible.

You can make an SQL script containing all your CREATE statements limited by "IF NOT EXISTS" to avoid deleting existing data. Hibernate can execute a sql script at the moment of creating the SessionFactory, if Hibernate finds a file named "import.sql" located in the classpath root, Hibernate will execute it. Also you can always edit the database.properties of an application already deployed without re-packaging the WAR.

Answer 2

Try Liquibase, http://www.liquibase.org/ . It does not allow your users to setup database connection details but it allows you to manage the database schema (create and update the schema) and default data.