Guide to Software Configuration Management
1st Edition
Published on 1. January 1999
384 pages
978-1-58053-420-8 (ISBN)
Description
Take control of the software development process with this new book, a comprehensive explanation of Software Configuration Management (SCM). It provides everything you need to know -- from the basic definition of SCM as a scientific tool that brings control to the development process, to the procedures for SCM implementation in your organization. You review each phase in the software development lifecycle, and learn how SCM can help you avoid pitfalls at every step. A Guide to Software Configuration Management explains the essential SCM lessons that you need to understand the mechanics of this development tool and how to implement it completely to save your organization time, money, and headaches. Using this guide, you learn how to create an SCM implementation plan, decide what additional SCM tools you may need, and understand how to evaluate SCM tools currently on the market. You also learn how to deal with SCM vendors and consultants, gain acceptance for SCM among your staff, and maintain an effective SCM plan over the long haul. SCM is explained in jargon-free language, allowing you to easily comprehend every step in the process, while gaining the in-depth knowledge you need to discern what specific SCM elements you need most. Without sermonizing, this book allows you to gain the confidence you need to understand, plan, implement, and manage SCM in your organization. Plus, the book includes a comprehensive list of SCM resources useful to all software development managers.
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Alexis Leon
A Guide to Software Configuration Management
Book
04/2000
Artech House Publishers
€88.09
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Content
- Intro
- Contents vii
- Preface xix
- How to use this book xx
- Who should read this book? xxi
- Acknowledgments xxi
- 1 Overview of software configuration management 1
- Introduction 1
- A brief history of SCM 3
- SCM: Concepts and definitions 4
- The SCM plan 7
- SCM functions 8
- Importance of SCM 9
- Conclusion 10
- References 10
- 2 The software development process 13
- Introduction 13
- Software development life cycle models 14
- Software development life cycle phases 19
- Conclusion 33
- References 33
- 3 Pitfalls in the software development process 35
- Introduction 35
- Communications breakdown problem 36
- Shared data problem 39
- Multiple maintenance problem 40
- Simultaneous update problem 42
- Conclusion 43
- References 44
- 4 Need and importance of software configuration management 45
- Introduction 45
- Increased complexity and demand 46
- Changing nature of software and need for change management 47
- Improved software development productivity 48
- Lower maintenance costs 49
- Better quality assurance 50
- Reduction of defects/bugs 51
- Faster problem identification and bug fixes 51
- Process-dependent development rather than person-dependent development 52
- Assurance that the correct system has been built 53
- Conclusion 53
- References 54
- 5 SCM: Basic concepts 55
- Introduction 55
- Overview of SCM 56
- Baselines 58
- Check-in and check-out 60
- Versions and variants 61
- Parallel development and branching 62
- Naming versions 65
- Source and derived items 65
- System building 66
- Releases 67
- Deltas 68
- Configuration management database 70
- Configuration control, status accounting, and configuration audits 72
- SCM: The different scenarios 73
- Conclusion 76
- References 77
- Selected bibliography 77
- 6 The different phases of software configuration management 79
- Introduction 79
- Different phases of SCM implementation 81
- SCM system design 83
- SCM plan preparation 85
- SCM team organization 85
- SCM infrastructure setup 86
- SCM team training 86
- Project team training 87
- Configuration identification 87
- Configuration control 88
- Configuration status accounting 88
- Configuration audits 88
- Conclusion 88
- Reference 89
- 7 Configuration identification 91
- Introduction 91
- Impact of configuration item selection 93
- Baselines 95
- Configuration item selection 97
- Designation: Naming of configuration items 99
- Configuration item description 100
- Acquisition of configuration items 100
- Conclusion 100
- References 101
- Selected bibliography 101
- 8 Configuration control 103
- Introduction 103
- Change 105
- Change and configuration control 105
- Problems of uncontrolled change 106
- Configuration control 107
- File-based versus change-based change management 116
- Escalation and notification 118
- Emergency fixes 119
- Problem reporting and tracking 120
- Problem reports and change requests 120
- Problem identification 121
- Defect classification 123
- Defect severity 125
- Defect prevention 125
- Change control board 127
- Conclusion 130
- References 131
- Selected bibliography 132
- 9 Status accounting 133
- Introduction 133
- Status accounting information gathering 134
- Importance of status accounting 135
- Status accounting reports 136
- Status accounting and automation 139
- Conclusion 142
- Reference 142
- Selected bibliography 142
- 10 Configuration audits and reviews 145
- Introduction 145
- When, what, and who of auditing 146
- Functional configuration audit 147
- Physical configuration audit 147
- Auditing the SCM system 148
- Role of the SCM team in configuration audits 148
- Configuration audits and SCM tools 149
- Conclusion 149
- Reference 150
- Selected bibliography 150
- 11 Software configuration management plans 151
- Introduction 151
- SCM plan and the incremental approach 152
- SCM plan and SCM tools 153
- SCM plans and standards 154
- Audit of the SCM plan 159
- How to write a good SCM plan 159
- Contents of a typical SCM plan 162
- Sample SCM plans 170
- Conclusion 171
- Reference 171
- Selected bibliography 172
- 12 SCM organization 173
- Introduction 173
- SCM and the organization 174
- SCM organization 178
- Skill inventory database 181
- CCB organization 183
- Conclusion 185
- Reference 185
- 13 Software configuration management tools 187
- Introduction 187
- Evolution of SCM tools 188
- Reasons for the increasing popularity of SCM tools 189
- Advantages of SCM tools 190
- Why many SCM tool implementations fail 192
- SCM tools and SCM functions 194
- SCM tools 201
- SCM tool selection 201
- Working with vendors 204
- Role of technology 205
- Selection criteria 206
- Tool implementation 210
- SCM tools: Make or buy? 213
- Conclusion 216
- References 216
- Selected bibliography 217
- 14 SCM implementation 219
- Introduction 219
- SCM implementation plan 220
- Implementation strategy 220
- SCM implementation team 221
- Pilot project 230
- SCM tool vendors 230
- Employees and employee resistance 232
- Company-wide implementation 233
- SCM implementation: The hidden costs 233
- Postimplementation scenario 235
- Conclusion 238
- Reference 239
- Selected bibliography 239
- 15 SCM in very large projects 241
- Introduction 241
- Performance of SCM tools 242
- Implementation strategy 243
- Distributed, concurrent, and parallel development 244
- Change management 244
- Status accounting 245
- System building 246
- Skill inventory database 246
- Training 246
- Help desks and other knowledge sharing systems 247
- SCM costs 247
- Conclusion 248
- Reference 248
- 16 Trends in SCM: Future directions 249
- Introduction 249
- Hardware and software configuration management 250
- Support for concurrent and parallel development 251
- Distributed development 251
- Web enabling 251
- Web site management 252
- Better integration with IDEs and CASE environments 253
- Customization 253
- Better decision-making capabilities 254
- Increased user awareness and expectations 254
- Reduction in SCM team size 254
- Market snapshot 255
- Conclusion 255
- References 256
- Selected bibliography 256
- Appendix A: SCM vendors and tools 257
- SCM tools 258
- SCM tool vendors and their tools 261
- Appendix B: SCM standards 287
- Introduction 287
- Military standards 289
- International/commercial standards 294
- Conclusion 297
- Selected bibliography 298
- Appendix C: SCM resources on the Internet 301
- Organizations and institutes 301
- Resource pages 307
- Commercial research organizations 309
- Digital/On-line libraries 310
- Magazines and periodicals 311
- General 315
- Appendix D: SCM bibliography 323
- SCM glossary and acronyms 353
- Sources 365
- About the author 367
- Index 369
