Standards Decoded

In the world of software development, delivering updates smoothly and efficiently is a make-or-break factor for success. At YeneHealth, we’ve honed our release process to ensure that every update—whether it’s a major feature rollout or a critical bug fix—is delivered seamlessly. By leveraging tools like GitHub and a structured approach, we’ve transformed how we manage releases, keeping our systems stable and our users happy.

In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes of our release cycle management. You’ll learn how we categorize changes, manage branches, and execute releases with precision. Whether you’re a developer, project manager, or simply curious about software workflows, this guide will give you practical, actionable steps to refine your own processes and deliver better results.

Understanding Release Types

Before diving into the process, it’s essential to understand the types of releases we manage:

Major Changes: These are significant updates that often introduce new features or functionalities. They’re necessary for users to take advantage of the latest capabilities but may require adjustments to existing workflows.
Minor Updates: These are backward-compatible enhancements that improve the system without disrupting current operations. They’re not immediately essential but add value over time.
Fixes: Bug fixes are critical for maintaining system stability and performance. They address issues that could impact user experience or functionality.
Improvements: These include refactoring or replacing features to make the codebase more efficient, scalable, or maintainable.

The Branching Strategy

A solid branching strategy is the backbone of our release process. Here’s how we structure it:

Development Branch: This is where all ongoing development work happens. It’s the playground for new features, fixes, and improvements.
Master Branch: This is the stable production branch. Only thoroughly tested and approved code makes it here, ensuring that the live environment remains reliable.

Release Cycle Process

Preparation Phase Before any release, we identify and categorize changes for each software component (backend, CMS, mobile app). We also review dependencies between different versions to ensure compatibility across the board.
Branch Management Code is reviewed, tested, and merged from the development branch into the master branch. We use Continuous Integration (CI) tools to automate testing, ensuring that only high-quality code is integrated.
Release Scheduling Setting a release date is crucial. We allow enough time for final testing and user training, ensuring a smooth transition to the new version.
Code Integration and Testing Thorough code reviews are conducted before merging changes into the master branch. CI tools play a key role here, running automated tests to catch any issues early.
Tagging and GitHub Release Creation Once the code is ready, we tag the new version and create a GitHub release. This includes documenting version numbers and providing a detailed list of changes for transparency.

Post-Release Activities

The work doesn’t stop after the release. Here’s what we do next:

Monitor Deployments: We keep a close eye on deployments to catch any issues early.
Revert if Necessary: If critical bugs arise, we act quickly to revert the changes and stabilize the system.
Communicate with Stakeholders: We share release notes with stakeholders and gather feedback from end-users to identify areas for improvement.

Documentation Updates

Keeping documentation up-to-date is non-negotiable. We ensure that user guides, API documentation, and other resources reflect the latest changes, making it easier for users and developers to adapt.

Conclusion