Database content provisioning includes a broad base shipment as an initial release of database content. The database content may then be incrementally enriched with specific enhancements, which may be delivered as updates. Shipping variants for delivering upgrades include delta installations, and in some embodiments, may include full installations. Changes to an existing database object in activated database content may be treated as a new database object, and may include a reference to the existing database object. The user is notified of the new database object, but the new database object is otherwise not activated, thus ensuring stability of the activated database content.