Release Management Concepts
This page defines key terms used in release management for Bloomreach Content.
Acceptance Environment
An acceptance environment is where customers and end-users verify a release against functional requirements. Users accept or reject the release based on this verification.
Bootstrap Mechanism
A bootstrap mechanism creates, updates, or deletes configuration or content when the application starts.
Channel
A channel is a medium for delivering content, such as a web or mobile site. Channels are managed in the CMS application and rendered by the delivery tier.
Channel Freeze
A channel freeze is a period during which users cannot modify channels in an environment. Channel freezes often occur together with content freezes.
CMS Application
The CMS application is a web application used to create, store, and maintain content and channels. It is packaged separately from the site application.
CMS Console
The CMS Console is a web application for developers and system administrators. It provides access to the low-level content repository structure and data. You can use it to make manual configuration changes or to export and import configuration.
Code
Code refers to the program code for an application. Code is typically included in a release and is only relevant to developers.
Configuration
Configuration consists of application settings for a specific environment. A release can introduce new configuration or require updates to existing configuration.
Content
Content includes data such as documents or images. Users create and maintain content in the CMS application, and the delivery tier renders it on web pages.
Content Model
The content model defines the data structures for content managed in the application. A release can introduce changes to the content model, which may require updates to existing content.
Content Freeze
A content freeze is a period during which users cannot modify content in an environment. Content freezes often occur together with channel freezes.
Delivery Tier
The delivery tier renders content managed in the CMS application as web pages in a channel. It is packaged in the site application, separate from the CMS application.
DTAP
DTAP stands for Development, Testing, Acceptance, and Production. It describes a phased approach to software testing and deployment. Some organizations refer to this as staging.
Read more about DTAP on Wikipedia.
Deployment
Deployment includes all activities required to make a release available for use in an environment.
Development Environment
A development environment is where developers build and test software applications. Bloomreach Content developers typically manage their own personal development environments on their computers.
Environment
An environment is a collection of network servers running a software application, along with any required supporting systems such as a database server. Environments are used for development, testing, or production.
Groovy
Groovy is a Java-based programming language used to write scripts.
Intake
Intake is the process of determining whether a deployment was successful, typically by performing a smoke test.
Production Environment
A production environment is where end-users use a release in daily operations.
Release
A release is the completed software product from one or more development cycles. It can be deployed, run, and used, and is referenced by a release version number.
Rollback
A rollback operation restores an environment to a previous state, typically the state before a failed deployment.
Site Application
The site application is a web application that contains the delivery tier.
Script
A script automates changes to content or configuration. Scripts are commonly implemented in Groovy and are used for updates and upgrades.
Smoke Test
A smoke test is a preliminary test that identifies critical failures severe enough to reject a release.
Staging
Staging refers to a phased approach to software testing and deployment, also known as DTAP.
Stakeholder
A stakeholder is any person, group, or organization with an interest in the software application's release management process.
Test Environment
A test environment is where developers, testers, project managers, and product managers test a software application under development. The development team typically manages test environments informally and resets them periodically.
Update
An update is a change to content or configuration required by a content model or configuration model change introduced by a release.
Upgrade
An upgrade is a change to content or configuration required by a content model or configuration model change introduced by a new version of Bloomreach Content or a plugin.