Daily Auto-Cleanup of Test DB Entries in Dev Environment
Why Automate Your Dev DB Cleanup?
Test data is essential during development, but if left unchecked, it can clutter your database and slow down performance. Automating the daily cleanup of test records ensures a tidy environment and helps your team stay focused and efficient. With n8n, you can schedule a daily cleanup that removes records flagged as test entries—no manual work required.
How It Works: Step-by-Step
- Schedule the Workflow: Use n8n’s built-in cron node to trigger the workflow once a day, preferably during off-peak hours.
- Execute SQL Cleanup: Add a SQL node to run a DELETE query on your development database. For example:
DELETE FROM users WHERE is_test = true; - Log Cleanup Results: Capture the number of rows deleted and the execution time. You can store this in a log table or include it in a notification.
- Send Notification: Use an email or Slack node to notify the dev team. Include query details, time of execution, and status for easy monitoring.
- Optional – Error Handling: Add a Catch node to send alerts if the cleanup fails, helping your team troubleshoot quickly.
Pro Tips & Variations
- Use different flags like
env = 'test'or timestamps to tailor cleanup logic. - Log deleted record IDs temporarily for rollback safety or audit trails.
- Use conditional logic to skip weekends or holidays.
- Integrate with observability tools (like Datadog) for visibility into execution metrics.
Need Help Automating Your DevOps Tasks?
Conversantech specializes in custom automation using n8n, AI agents, and powerful integrations. Whether you’re cleaning up test data or orchestrating complex workflows, we’ve got your back.
Next Steps & Consultation
Need help tailoring this to your CRM, adding secure error handling, or scaling across teams? Our AI automation experts are here to help: