Release
Also Known As
- Blue-Green Deployment (in DevOps)
- Canary Releases (in DevOps)
- Continuous Delivery Pipeline (in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe))
- Deployment
- Flow Efficiency (in TameFlow)
- Launch
- Publication
- Release on Demand (in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe))
- Software Release Management
Related
Addresses / Mitigates
- Feature Fit Risk: Putting new features in the hands of users can make your product fit their needs better.
- Market Risk: Delivering features means you get market feedback.
- Funding Risk: Delivering features might mean you get paid for the software you write.
Attendant Risks
- Schedule Risk: Delays in the release process can impact overall project time-lines.
- Operational Risk: Releasing software means that the software has to be supported in production.
- Process Risk: Complex release procedures are a source of process risk.
- Reliability Risk: Releases can introduce discontinuities in software service if not managed well.
- Reputational Risk: Poor release management can destroy reputation and good-will.
- Legal Risk: Publishing or releasing code may involve licensing, Intellectual Property, Liability or other legal compliance."
Used By
- DevOps: Canary releases and blue-green deployments are used to test new features in a controlled manner.
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe): SAFe promotes continuous delivery through the Release on Demand capability.
- TameFlow: TameFlow optimises flow to enable predictable, reliable releases.
Description
"Release management is the process of managing, planning, scheduling, and controlling a software build through different stages and environments; it includes testing and deploying software releases." - Release management, Wikipedia
Release / Delivery involves the structured and controlled process of moving software from development to production environments. It ensures that all aspects of the software are ready for deployment, including code stability, functionality, and performance. Effective release management is crucial for maintaining the quality and reliability of software, minimizing disruptions, and ensuring that new features and fixes reach users in a timely manner.
Variations
| Release Type | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-Green Deployment | Running two identical production environments, switching traffic between them for zero-downtime releases. | Blue-Green Deployment, Wikipedia |
| Canary Release | Gradually rolling out changes to a small subset of users before full deployment. | Canary Release, Wikipedia |
| Rolling Deployment | Incrementally updating instances one at a time to avoid complete service interruption. | Rolling Update, Kubernetes |
| Feature Toggle | Deploying code with features disabled, enabling them selectively without redeployment. | Feature Toggle, Wikipedia |
See also: Development Process, Consider Payoff, Production (Cadence)
Used By
DevOps
A set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality.
Why: Canary releases and blue-green deployments are used to test new features in a controlled manner.
- Canary Releases
- Blue-Green Deployment
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
A set of organization and workflow patterns for scaling lean and agile practices across large enterprises.
Why: SAFe promotes continuous delivery through the Release on Demand capability.
- Release on Demand
- Continuous Delivery Pipeline
TameFlow
A management approach for knowledge work that integrates Theory of Constraints, Kanban, and Agile principles to optimize the flow of work, information, and value.
Why: TameFlow optimises flow to enable predictable, reliable releases.
- Flow Efficiency
Used By
DevOps
A set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality.
Why: Canary releases and blue-green deployments are used to test new features in a controlled manner.
- Canary Releases
- Blue-Green Deployment
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
A set of organization and workflow patterns for scaling lean and agile practices across large enterprises.
Why: SAFe promotes continuous delivery through the Release on Demand capability.
- Release on Demand
- Continuous Delivery Pipeline
TameFlow
A management approach for knowledge work that integrates Theory of Constraints, Kanban, and Agile principles to optimize the flow of work, information, and value.
Why: TameFlow optimises flow to enable predictable, reliable releases.
- Flow Efficiency