Software Configuration Management

[henpat123]

HI,
Can anybody explain what Software Configuration management is all about in laymans terms? I am a programmer persuing a project management position and wanted to know what basically is the problem in the IT world that needs SCM in the first place?

henry

 

[johnherman]

Software Configuration Management is about being able to control and reproduce the environment in which your application is developed, tested, and deployed. It involves source control and a regimented process for promoting code from development to test and then production. It also involves documenting the other aspects of the env such as Operating System version and patches applice, Database Version and patches applied, third party software versions and patches (modeling, ETL, reporting tools, for example), etc. It is most important when there are several versions of the software being worked on at once. One version in production, a different version in test, and another one or two in development. Sometimes the Test environment is subdivided into systems testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing. Just a basic intro. Let us know if you need more detail and I'm sure someone else will have a slightly different interpretation of what SCM means to them or in their organization.

-------------------------
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw

 

[thedaver]

Damn fine job johnherman!

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[henpat123]

thanks johnherman. That definitely gave me a bigger picture of SCM.