Deployment - Typical Activities
Producing the Software
The output of the implementation and the test workflows are tested executables. These executable programs must be associated with other artifacts to constitute a complete product:
In some circumstances, different executables may have to be produced for different user configurations. Or different sets of artifacts have to be assembled for different classes of users: new users versus existing users, variants by country or language, and so on. For distributed software, different sets may have to be produced for different computing nodes in the network. Packaging the Software
The various artifacts that constitute the delivered product are packaged on suitable media: diskettes, tapes, CD-ROM, archived server files, books, videotapes, and so on, and should be properly identified and labeled. The activities often involve dealing with external organizations to package the software. In some circumstances (for example, small embedded systems) the software becomes part of another system in the form of PROM. Distributing the Software
Again there is a wide range of options, from shipping boxes, to using a network of distributors, to Internet distribution. One issue is that of controlling who is authorized to use the software: licensing. Software licensing usually involves the set up of procedures and tools to manage licenses and communicate license codes to the users. Installing the Software
With the advent of Internet distribution, more and more software installation is a user-controlled process. It must however be supported by installation tools and procedures delivered with the product. In some rarer cases (large complex technical systems) installation is performed by the software vendor. Installation is generally more complex in the case of a distributed system, where all nodes have to be brought up to date in a timely fashion, and where the installation may split up in multiple installation procedures. Migration
As part of the installation comes often the issue of migration:
The programs associated with this migration are developed and tested using exactly the same process as the primary product. Providing Help and Assistance to
the Users
This can take various forms:
Support often involves setting up procedures for problem tracking and resolution, which integrate to the change management activity. Acceptance
In some contractual development circumstances, there is an activity that takes place as part of the deployment: formal acceptance by the customer of the delivered software. Planning and Conduct of Beta Tests
Many products are tested as part of deployment in the early stage of the transition with a representative community of users. A subset of the product is injected into this user community, and procedures are put in place to solicit, capture and analyze their feedback. |
|
|