For my first significant (non Acme::) distribution for CPAN, I've been able to create modules that will interact with a propriety database and in trying to create the tests for all the interactions, have hit a stumbling block - to supply canned data, or not to.

Normally I would ask WWDBID (What Would DBI Do?), however RDBMS-like databases allow permitted users connecting to the server to not just modify rows, but also structure as well. This is a freedom unavailable to me given the way the software works. In conclusion I see a few options:

• Can it - supply a small canned data set so non-smoke testers and end users with the propriety software can test it. This means putting a 100kb+ binary blob into the distribution, and also into my repository.
• Linked can - don't supply the canned data, but simply host it, so that interested parties can download it and use it as they wish. In the future when I might care less about developing this, this link could break.
• Hijack - use an existing database hosted on the client's test server and perform both read and write queries. This has the potential to go wrong if bad code deletes or overwrites end user data.
• Mouse Potato - Don't bother about complete test coverage and go back to browsing tech blogs.

Wise monks, what do you suggest?

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