8 Steps for Building a Software Release Plan

Software development has changed over the years. Similarly, the evolution in software release planning has been noteworthy. Software release management consists of different stages which require proper product planning and delivery. Good software release management can ensure a good quality product. And thus, every software development team must build a quality release plan to deliver optimum results. 

What is a software release plan?

A software release plan is an accurate timetable of the various stages of the software development lifecycle. In other words, the plan involves monitoring software through the development, testing, deployment, and delivery stages.

A good software release plan lists the objective as per the target audience and the project’s business goals, timeframe, and budget. Every software release plan comprises a first-time release plan and updates for future iterations. Most importantly, each team member must know the individual workload and the overall path of the software release to ensure successful delivery. 

First-time release plan

Eight steps of first time release plan

The first-time release plan is crucial for establishing the foundation for a good software release.

1. Define the type of software
   
   Firstly, developers need to decide the type of software they want to create, for example, application software, system software, or utility software. Developers must also determine whether the software is for general or specific purposes.
   
   
2. Define the features
   
   Developers must have a clear purpose in deciding which features they want to add to the software. By defining specific software features, developers can better plan the completion timeline for each feature.
   
   
3. Set clear goals and expectations
   
   It is important to set clear goals and expectations for the software project. Detailed project outlines help each team member understand their roles and responsibilities. This way, the team can track the progress upon the completion of each stage. Also, setting clear expectations help clients understand what the software release will offer.
   
   
4. Simplify product backlog
   
   Developers with a simple product backlog fare better than the rest. By prioritizing task lists and listing the order of items in the product log clearly, software release management is well-planned and organized.
   
   
5. Software release proposal
   
   Every software release proposal should include how each part of the release will unfold. The proposal should define project goals, timelines for each stage, and tasks assigned to each team.
   
   
6. Risk analysis
   
   Risk analysis includes all the possible setbacks that can occur during different stages of development. By including risk analysis in the process, developers can plan the measures for any outages during the software release.
   
   
7. Testing
   
   Every part of the software release should undergo routine testing in the production stage.  By testing the software in the beta version, developers can find potential issues and fix them immediately.
   
   
8. Monitor final product
   
   The final part of the software release plan involves releasing the product to the end-user. By monitoring the final product, developers can check if the software is running properly and performing as expected.

How is a release plan created? 

A software release plan outlines the project goals and objectives. After creating the outline, the team needs to prepare detailed roadmaps for each stage of software development. 

What is included in the software release?

The software release must include the timeframe and roadmaps for software planning, deploying, designing, scheduling, and testing.  It must also include roadmaps for feature addition in future iterations. 

Updates during future iterations

Five steps of updates during future iterations

After the first release plan is out, the second step consists of updates during future iterations.

1. Check the scope
   
   Scope refers to the current speed and time at which software runs compared to the projected forecasts. By checking the scope, developers can plan future software releases better.
   
   
2. Check and update backlog.
   
   By looking at the product backlog, developers can identify which items did not make it to the final stage of the release. Developers must reorganize the remaining items as per the execution of the software release. They can also chart out a plan for these items for future updates.
   
   
3. Review performance
   
   It is essential to measure the performance of the software release. By doing so, developers can know what took more or less time concerning the estimates for specific software components.
   
   
4. Analyze future risks
   
   Another critical aspect of software release management is analyzing future risks. Developers who calculate future risks regarding the final product can work on solutions for potential issues. And thus, analyzing future risks helps developers build a definite plan to tackle unforeseen problems.
   
   
5. Release the iterations
   
   After reviewing the software and working on the updates, it is time to release the next stage of the software. Developers must test all the changes in a staged environment before making them available to the end-users.

Summary

Software release planning requires a lot of time and effort. And so, every software development team must carefully discuss each stage of the plan to achieve the best results. The team must also ensure that the release plan aligns with the overall business goals to ensure optimum output.

A good software release is the end goal of every company. Naturally, every company needs a great team to finalize a great software release. And that’s precisely why every company should try Turing.

With Turing, companies can hire experienced, pre-vetted software developers with just the push of a button. Visit our jobs page for more information.