Release

Release -  a launch of the program/code/library - ready-to-use product. Usually it is a pre-tested version, ready to run by the end user.

Release Management

The goal of the release management process is to consolidate structures and optimise all changes, as well as reduce the risk of failure when updating the service to a new level.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to properly allocate available resources.

The process of Release Management consists of three phases:

1. Development phase: may not always be applicable to an organization, but for some companies this phase may be one of the most fundamental; for example, software development firms or design offices;
2. Testing phase: at this stage it is necessary to determine the criteria for testing for each release, that is, the degree of determining the release readiness for distribution and implementation;
3. Phase of distribution and implementation.

The Release Management process exists at every enterprise to some extent. Therefore, the main task of implementing this process is consolidation, structuring, and systematization of all available components, their addition, as well as a description of the procedures for implementing existing versions. This will further develop a number of so-called corporate standards for the composition of software and hardware for installation, which will further significantly simplify the implementation of related processes and reduce the employment of highly skilled professionals.

If the Release Management process is successfully and correctly implemented, users will receive:

• Control over additional software licenses;
• Training users and professionals to work in advanced systems, which will improve the quality of interaction with customers, and will be a protective action that promotes the advancement of new technologies;
• Optimally distributed resources necessary for implementation;
• Decrease occasion for risk, when making changes in the composition of information technology systems and the services themselves;
• Optimization of repeated updates by time and cost, through their synchronization and automation;
• Planned changes;
• Cost planning for the implementation of certain updates.

There are several other definitions for release, not connected to the IT-industry. In general, the idea of permitting performance, publication, or discharge from obligations can also be termed as ‘release.’