Software configuration management manages effects of change throughout software process

Discussion

• Nirja Shah   -Posted on 20 Oct 15
  Software configuration management (SCM or SWCM)
  
  - It is the task of tracking and controlling changes in the software, part of the larger cross-disciplinary field of configuration management.
  
  - Its practices include revision control and the establishment of baselines.
  
  - If something goes wrong, SCM can determine what was changed and who changed it.
  
  - If a configuration is working well, SCM can determine how to replicate it across many hosts.
  
  - The acronym "SCM" is also expanded as source configuration management process and software change and configuration management.
  
  - However, "configuration" is generally understood to cover changes typically made by a system administrator.
  
  - The goals of SCM are generally:
  
  1. Configuration identification - Identifying configurations, configuration items and baselines.
  
  2. Configuration control - Implementing a controlled change process. This is usually achieved by setting up a change control board whose primary function is to approve or reject all change requests that are sent against any baseline.
  
  3. Configuration status accounting - Recording and reporting all the necessary information on the status of the development process.
  
  4. Configuration auditing - Ensuring that configurations contain all their intended parts and are sound with respect to their specifying documents, including requirements, architectural specifications and user manuals.
  
  5. Build management - Managing the process and tools used for builds.
  
  6. Process management - Ensuring adherence to the organization's development process.
  
  7. Environment management - Managing the software and hardware that host the system.
  
  8. Teamwork - Facilitate team interactions related to the process.
  
  9. Defect tracking - Making sure every defect has traceability back to the source.

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