SCM
SCM
Management
Configuration
Outline of the Lecture
Purpose of Software Configuration Management (SCM)
Motivation: Why software configuration management?
Definition: What is software configuration management?
Activities and roles in software configuration management
Some Terminology
Configuration Item, Baseline, SCM Directory, Version, Revision
Release.
Software Configuration Management Activities
Promotion Management, Release Management, Change Management
Outline of a Software Configuration Management Plans
Standards (Example: IEEE 828-1990)
Basic elements of IEEE 828-1990
Configuration Management Tools
Bernd Bruegge & Allen H. Dutoit Object-Oriented Software Engineering: Using UML, Patterns, and Java 2
Why Software Configuration Management ?
The problem:
Multiple people have to work on software that is changing
More than one version of the software has to be supported:
Released systems
Custom configured systems (different functionality)
System(s) under development
Software must run on different machines and operating systems
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What is Software Configuration Management?
Definition:
A set of management disciplines within the software engineering process
to develop a baseline.
Baseline - “A specification or product that has been formally reviewed and
agreed to by responsible management, that thereafter serves as the basis for
further development, and can be changed only through formal change control
procedures.”
Description:
Software Configuration Management encompasses the disciplines and
techniques of initiating, evaluating and controlling change to software
products during and after the software engineering process.
Standards (approved by ANSI)
IEEE 828: Software Configuration Management Plans
IEEE 1042: Guide to Software Configuration Management
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Software Configuration Management is a Project
Function
SCM is a Project Function (as defined in the SPMP) with the goal to
make technical and managerial activities more effective.
Software Configuration Management can be administered in several
ways:
A single software configuration management team for the whole
organization
A separate configuration management team for each project
Software Configuration Management distributed among the project
members
Mixture of all of the above
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Configuration Management Activities
No fixed rules:
Activities are usually performed in different ways (formally, informally)
depending on the project type and life-cycle phase (research, development,
maintenance).
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Configuration Management Activities (continued)
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Configuration Management Roles
Configuration Manager
Responsible for identifying configuration items. The configuration
manager can also be responsible for defining the procedures for creating
promotions and releases
Change control board member
Responsible for approving or rejecting change requests
Developer
Creates promotions triggered by change requests or the normal activities
of development. The developer checks in changes and resolves conflicts
Auditor
Responsible for the selection and evaluation of promotions for release and
for ensuring the consistency and completeness of this release
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Terminology
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Terminology: Configuration Item
Software configuration items are not only program code segments but all type of
documents according to development, e.g
all type of code files
drivers for tests
analysis or design documents
user or developer manuals
system configurations (e.g. version of compiler used)
In some systems, not only software but also hardware configuration items (CPUs,
bus speed frequencies) exist!
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Tasks for the Configuration Managers
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Finding Configuration Items
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Finding Configuration Items (continued)
Some items must be maintained for the lifetime of the software. This
includes also the phase, when the software is no longer developed
but still in use; perhaps by industrial customers who are expecting
proper support for lots of years.
An entity naming scheme should be defined
so that related documents have related names.
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Which of these Entities should be Configuration Items?
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Possible Selection of Configuration Items
Once the Configuration Items are selected, they are usually organized in a tree
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Configuration Item Tree (Example)
“The project” CI
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Terminology: Baseline
Examples:
Baseline A: All the API have completely been defined; the bodies of the
methods are empty.
Baseline B: All data access methods are implemented and tested.
Baseline C: The GUI is implemented.
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More on Baselines
As systems are developed, a series of baselines is developed, usually
after a review (analysis review, design review, code review, system
testing, client acceptance, ...)
Developmental baseline (RAD, SDD, Integration Test, ...)
Goal: Coordinate engineering activities.
Functional baseline (first prototype, alpha release, beta release)
Goal: Get first customer experiences with functional system.
Product baseline (product)
Goal: Coordinate sales and customer support.
Many naming scheme for baselines exist (1.0, 6.01a, ...)
A 3 digit scheme is quite common:
7.5.5
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Baselines in SCM
Baseline A (developmental)
Official Release
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Controlling Changes
Promote Release
Policy Policy
User
Programmer Master Software Repository
Promotion Directory Release
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Terminology: SCM Directories
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Standard SCM Directories
Programmer’s Directory
(IEEE Std: “Dynamic Library”)
Completely under control of one
programmer.
Promotion
Master Directory
(IEEE Std: “Controlled Library”) Central source
code archive
Central directory of all promotions.
Release
Software Repository
(IEEE Std: “Static Library”)
Foo’95 Foo’98
Externally released baselines.
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Promotion and Release are Operations on CIs
“The project” CI
“The project” CI
promote()
release()
* Promotion Release
*
Master Repository
Directory
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Let‘s Create a Model for Configuration Management
Version
* Promotion Release
*
Master Repository
Directory
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Let‘s Create a Model for Configuration Management
*
Version
* Promotion Release
*
Master Repository
Directory
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Let‘s Create a Model for Configuration Management
Controlled item
Configuration Item
*
*
CM Aggregate Configuration item Version
* Promotion Release
*
Master Repository
Directory
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Configuration Item Model (UML Class Diagram)
* Controlled
item
Configuration *
CM Aggregate item Version
* Promotion Release
*
Master Repository
Directory
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Change Policies
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Terminology: Version vs. Revision vs. Release
Version:
An initial release or re-release of a configuration item associated with a
complete compilation or recompilation of the item. Different versions have
different functionality.
Question: Is Windows98 a new
version or a new revision compared
Revision: to Windows95 ?
Change to a version that corrects only errors in the design/code, but does
not affect the documented functionality.
Release:
The formal distribution of an approved version.
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Tasks for the Configuration Managers
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Software Configuration Management Planning
The SCMP can either follow a public standard like the IEEE 828, or
an internal (e.g. company specific) standard.
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The Software Configuration Management Plan
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Outline of a Software Configuration Management Plan
(SCMP, IEEE 828-1990)
1. Introduction 4. Schedule (WHEN?)
Describes purpose, scope of Establishes the sequence and
application, key terms and coordination of the SCM activities
references with project mile stones.
2. Management (WHO?) 5. Resources (HOW?)
Identifies the responsibilities and Identifies tools and techniques
authorities for accomplishing the required for the implementation of
planned configuration management the SCMP
activities 6. Maintenance
3. Activities (WHAT?) Identifies activities and
Identifies the activities to be responsibilities on how the SCMP
performed in applying to the will be kept current during the life-
project. cycle of the project.
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SCMP Section 1: Introduction
1.1 Simplified overview of the configuration management activities.
1.2 Scope:
Overview description of the project
Identification of the CI(s) to which software configuration management
will be applied.
1.3 Identification of other software to be included as part of the SCMP
(support software and test software)
1.4 Relationship of SCM to hardware of system configuration
management activities
1.5 Degree of formality and depth of control for applying SCM to
project.
1.6 Limitations and time constraints for applying SCM to this project
1.7 Assumptions that might have an impact on the cost, schedule and
ability to perform defined SCM activities.
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SCMP Section 2: Management
2.1 Organization
Organizational context (technical and managerial) within which the SCM
activities are implemented. Identifies
All organizational units (client, developers, managers) that participate in an SCM
activity
Functional roles of these people within the project
Relationship between organizational units
2.2. Responsibilities
For each SCM activity list the name or job title to perform this activity
For each board performing SCM activities, list
purpose and objectives
membership and affiliations
period of effectivity, scope of authority
operational procedures
3. Applicable Policies
External constraints placed on the SCMP
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SCMP Section 3: Activities
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3.2 Configuration Control
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3.2.1 Change Request
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3.2.2 Evaluation of a Change
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3.2.3 Change Approval or Disapproval
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3.2.4 Implementing Change
This section of the SCMP specifies the activities for verifying and
implementing an approved change.
A completed change request must contain the following information:
The original change request(s)
The names and versions of the affected configuration items
Verification date and responsible party
Identifier of the new version
Release or installation date and responsible party
This section must also specify activities for
Archiving completed change requests
Planning and control of releases
How to coordinate multiple changes
How to add new CIs to the configuration
How to deliver a new baseline
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3.3 Configuration Status Accounting
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3.4 Configuration Audits and Reviews
This section of the SCMP identifies audits and reviews for the
project.
An audit determines for each Configuration Item if it has the required
physical and functional characteristics.
A review is a management tool for establishing a baseline.
For each audit or review the plan has to define:
Objective
The Configuration Items under review
The schedule for the review
Procedures for conducting the review
Participants by job title
Required documentation
Procedure for recording deficiencies and how to correct them
Approval criteria
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Tasks for the Configuration Managers (Summary)
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Form of an SCMP
Form:
The SCMP can be a separate document or a section embedded in another
document, for example in the SPMP, titled “Software Configuration Management
Plan”.
Minimum information
6 Sections: Introduction, Management, Activities, Schedules, Resources and Plan
Maintenance
Consistency Criteria (to be used at a SCMP review meeting):
All activities defined in the SCMP (Section 3.1 to 3.6) are assigned to an
organizational unit or person.
All identified Configuration items (Section 2.1) have defined processes for baseline
establishment and change control (Section 3.2)
All activities are associated with resources (section 5) to accomplish the activities.
Such a SCMP can include the following sentence:
“This SCM Plan conforms with the requirements of IEEE Std 828-1990.”
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Tailoring the SCMP
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Conformance to the IEEE Standard 828-1990
Presentation format & Minimum information
A separate document or a section embedded in another document titled
“Software Configuration Management Plan”.
6 Sections: Introduction, Management, Activities, Schedules, Resources
and Plan Maintenance
Consistency Criteria:
All activities defined in the SCMP (Section 3.1 to 3.6) are assigned to an
organizational unit or person and they are associated with resources to
accomplish the activities.
All Configuration items identified in Section 2.1 have defined processes for
baseline establishment and change control (Section 3.2) .
If the above criteria are met, the SCMP can include the following
sentence:
“This SCMP conforms with the requirements of IEEE Std 828-1990.”
Note: The consistency criteria can also be used at a SCMP review
meeting
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Example SCM Plans (from the Guide IEEE 1042.1990)
Life-cycle Phase Project Type Size SCM Tools Life Span Writing Character of
Project
A
Complex system
Development Critical Medium Advanced Short Highly contracted to
Structured another company
B Small software
development
Concept Prototype Small Basic Short Informal project
C SCMP used by
Maintenance Support Large On-line Full Structured organization using
Software Life-Cycle contracted SW
D
Development of
All Commercial Small Integrated Full Informal embedded
Life-Cycle applicatåions
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Tools for Software Configuration Management
Software configuration management is normally supported by tools
with different functionality.
Examples:
RCS
very old but still in use; only version control system
CVS (Concurrent Version Control)
based on RCS, allows concurrent working without locking
http://www.cvshome.org/
CVSWeb: Web Frontend to CVS
Perforce
Repository server; keeps track of developer’s activities
http://www.perforce.com
ClearCase
Multiple servers, process modeling, policy check mechanisms
http://www.rational.com/products/clearcase/
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Tasks for the Configuration Managers
SCMP following the IEEE 828-1990 standard
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References
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Summary
Software Configuration Management: Important part of project
management to manage evolving software systems and coordinate
changes to them.
Software Configuration Management consists of several activities:
Promotion and Release management (Covered today)
Branch, Variant and Change Management ([Bruegge-Dutoit])
Public standard for SCM plans: IEEE 828.
The standard can be tailored to a particular project:
Large projects need detailed plans to be successful
Small projects should not be burdened with the bureaucracy of detailed
SCM plans
SCM should be supported by tools. These range from
Simple version storage tools
Sophisticated systems with automated procedures for policy checks and
support for the creation of SCM documents.
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