Software Release Management

What is a Software Release?

• Software Code

• Documentation• Documentation

• Support Materials (e.g. CD / Web

Download)

Typical Software Release Cycle

• Pre-Alpha –all activities prior to

testing.

• Alpha – code tested by developers

and testers

• Beta – feature complete, tested by

α

β • Beta – feature complete, tested by

developers, testers and specific

customers (open beta).

• Release candidate – version

viewed as final product for general

release.

β

R?

Typical Software Release Cycle

• Release – version confirmed as OK

to be released to the world

• General availability – product with

deployment, documentation and

support completedsupport completed

• Support release – e.g. Windows

Service Packs

• End of Life – software no longer

supported

Software Testing checks that it:

• Meets the business & technical

requirements

• Works as expected• Works as expected

• Can be implemented

Software Verification / Validation

• Have we built the software

correctly – does it match the

specification?

• Have we built the right

software – does it do what

the customer is asking for?

Release Management

• Release Management is a recent

and rapidly growing discipline

• Process of ensuring releases can

be reliably planned, scheduled and

deployed to the mass marketdeployed to the mass market

• In the past Project Managers have

performed some of this function

with the bias being on the high-level

aspects of the projects

Development

TestRelease

Software products typically have ongoing cycle of development, testing and release

Release Coordinator

Software Development

Software Test

SW Release Team

Bugs can

be reported

at many

stages from

many

places

Coordinator

Sales & Marketing

Field Application Engineering

Require dedicated resource to oversee the integration and flow

of the development, testing, deployment and support of the

software and systems

Challenges

• Software Defects (bugs)

• Software Change Requests

• New Features & Functions• New Features & Functions

• Risks (various – e.g. Part testing)

More challenges!

• Deployment – to multiple software and

hardware platforms, systems,

environments (e.g. Mac / Linux /

WinXP / Vista / Win7, service packs,

PC, Laptops, Netbooks, Mobile)PC, Laptops, Netbooks, Mobile)

• Release to global community –

millions of users

• New Product Lines – new

environments to test (e.g.Mobile), new

features, new complexity.

Need to know?

• What is new in this release

• What is the new code

• Where did it go

• Why did it go there• Why did it go there

• How to deal with this release when

bugs are reported

• Business requirements from

engineering, sales, marketing, FAEs

• Customers’ priorities (will conflict!)

What is a Release Manager?

Businessman/woman

Facilitator

Gatekeeper

Architect

Diplomat

Coordinator

The ‘go to’ person

Questions?

Software Development

Software Test

SW Release Team

Release Coordinator

Sales & Marketing

Field Application Engineering

Lewis Turner, Technical Manager

Lewis.Turner@displaylink.com