Mysql admin here. If i need to create an in sync copy of a mysql db machine i take a snapshot then let replication catch up. Done. I can do whatever I want to t

Mysql admin here. If i need to create an in sync copy of a mysql db machine i take a snapshot then let replication catch up. Done. I can do whatever I want to this new machine (test alters, drop columns, etc) and let it catch up. If i like the box i just attach a few replicas - promote it to master, done. The Triggers trick is awesome (go percona!) -- but with cloud vms it takes a few seconds to fire up a complete insync replica. I find this safer than triggers running all over a prod database [esp. if you have thousands of vms!]. IMHO. When I read about Postgres it's like being transported to 2005.