1. A computer implemented method for online upgrading of a software application in a database environment using a transparently-patched seed data table, the method comprising: copying, while the software application is running, data comprising a seed data table to database table rows temporarily inaccessible by the software application, the copying to create a seed data table copy; modifying the schema of the seed data table copy by applying at least one patch, the modifying to create a patched seed data table copy; stopping the software application, then changing the database table rows temporarily inaccessible by the software application to become accessible by the software application; and restarting the software application to point to the patched seed data table copy.