The question that most software development teams ask is: "Can we improve the software release management process?" If you are considering implementing a system for release management in your development workflow or have already done so, you may be looking for best practices.
Release management is the process that supports a smooth deployment and release of a software product or service by defining requirements, mapping project initiatives and dependencies, performing planning and tracking tasks as well as communicating status updates.
A well-managed release management process can reduce risk, improve operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.
This blog will share ideas on what IT management tool to use, how to set priorities and proper processes for release management.
Objectives of The Release Management Process
Software release management can be challenging, but it is a critical part of the entire software development process. The objectives of software release management are:
- Ensure that the software development process is completed as efficiently as possible and within budget.
- Ensure that changes and updates to the software are made in a timely manner.
- To reduce risk to your company by reducing defects in your products.
The release management process involves using best practices and the best IT management tool to fulfil the objectives.
Release Management Best Practices
Define Measurable KPIs
When it comes to release management, there are a lot of factors to consider. The most important ones, however, are measurable KPIs.
The reason is that they give you an objective way to measure your release's success—and improve the process of delivering high-quality software releases by making sure that your team is always improving.
Here are the most vital KPIs you should be looking for:
- Total number of defects introduced in a release
- Number of bugs fixed per day or week
- Average time required for fixing each defect
- Percentage of defects that require manual intervention (i.e., no automated tools can fix them)
Practice Dark Launching
Dark launching is a process of launching your app in a limited capacity to gather data and feedback and then expand as you iron out any kinks.
It's beneficial for various reasons:
- To find bugs and feature issues before they're visible to the general public
- To ensure that your product is stable before it's released to the masses
- To help you get feedback from users on any new features or bugs that have been discovered
Introduce Automation
Automation can be used to streamline the release management process. It allows for more efficient use of time and resources, which can lead to better quality and fewer errors. Automation can also improve communication between different departments within the organization.
Some classic examples of automation in the release management process include:
- Code branching/branching strategies - This is where you decide which branches your software will be developed on and then create separate branches for each development stage. For example, when writing code, it might make sense to create a staging branch so that there's an exact copy of the codebase on which new changes can be made.
- Code verification- Automated tests are run against the codebase to ensure its functionality has not changed since the last automated test was run. A common way this is done is as part of each commit—the entire commit history gets checked against the file system (or database) version in use at that time.
- Continuous integration - This helps ensure that everything builds correctly before it gets deployed into production. It includes continuous testing against source control and other automated checks for things like security flaws or broken dependencies.
Wrapping Up
Release Management, if managed correctly, can be a significant competitive advantage in the market. It is not just the coordination of work performed by multiple teams. It is an integration of an organization's business-aligned solution with its software delivery vehicles executing on a consistent and reliable velocity.
A highly effective release management process consistently ensures successful results for all project stakeholders (customers, internal customers, end users and agents).
