1 : A method for upgrading a database that is still being accessed in an online service, comprising: starting an upgrade process of a database used in the online service that includes updating a schema that is used by the database; upgrading the schema of the database currently being utilized to an upgraded schema while continuing to receive, process, and perform requests for database operations; after upgrading the schema to the upgraded schema, upgrading a computing device of the online service to use the upgraded schema; and the upgraded computing device accessing the database using the upgraded schema.