Release management is the process of controlling software releases to ensure they are timed correctly and launched smoothly. Requests are made to development teams, changes are made and tested, and a regular release schedule is created. Version managers need computer and business skills, flexibility, and creativity.
Release management is the process of overseeing and controlling software releases with the goal of timing them correctly and keeping the launch of new releases as smooth as possible. Software companies may have an officer in charge of specifically managing new releases, and in other cases, project teams appoint a lead to coordinate this work. A number of skills are required to manage software releases well, including the ability to accept that a product will be under constant revision until it is retired.
The release management process begins with requests being made to the development teams. These can include user requests from people who want more functionality, along with suggestions or requests from company officials who want to think about the future and needs of project users. The team reviews these requests, discusses the difficulty of implementing them, and advises on whether to move forward or shelve the requests for the future. Eventually, they will develop a list of changes to make to the software and can enter the development phase.
During the development aspect of version management, programmers make changes and test the software to see how the change affects functionality. The goal is to catch problems before releasing the software, avoiding the costs and reputational damage associated with having to patch after a new release. As developers become more confident in a release’s stability, they can send it to larger groups of testers to test it out, before finally packaging it for distribution and providing support.
Software companies often support multiple previous versions simultaneously, while developing the next version. Part of managing releases involves thinking about timing. Software companies usually want to create a regular release schedule to assure users that updates and changes are made, without having so many versions that the software becomes impractical to manage. For particularly large releases, such as a jump from a 2.0 release to a 3.0 release, there may appear to be a larger delay between release times because developers are making significant changes.
Version managers usually have a computer background, even if they are not specifically involved in software development. They also have business skills and the ability to work with software developers, legal counsel, advertising departments, and other members of a software company. Flexibility and creativity are both useful attributes to have, as is the ability to keep people coordinated, focused and engaged throughout the release management process without stifling innovation.
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