Configuration Management

What are Software Configuration Management Best Practices? "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">

The best practices of Software Configuration Management are as follows

• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Identify and store artifacts in a secure repository
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Control and audit changes to artifacts
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Organize artifacts into versioned components
• • Arial"">Components reduce complexity
  • Arial"">It is easier to identify the quality level of a particular component baseline than that of numerous individual files
  • Arial"">Instantiating a physical component object in a tool helps institutionalize component sharing and reuse
  • Arial"">Mapping logical design components to physical SCM components helps preserve the integrity of software architectures
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Create baselines at project milestones
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Record and track requests for change
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Organize and integrate consistent sets of versions using activities
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Maintain stable and consistent workspaces
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Support concurrent changes to artifacts and components
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Integrate early and often
• font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Ensure reproducibility of software builds

What are the problems of not using Software Configuration Management (SCM)?Arial"">

Multiple people have to work on software that is changing More than one version
of the software has to be supported ie: Released systems, Custom configured
systems, System(s) under development

What is a Software Configuration Management tool? Arial"">

Software tools that automate and facilitate the application of the Software Configuration Management best practices.

What are Software Configuration Management processes? 10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
The way SCM is performed on your project, specifically how an SCM tool is
applied to accomplish a set of tasks

How can Software Configuration Management followed without tools ? "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Using File Copies to Support Early SCM - Storing
backup versions of the software system - Storing intermediate working versions,
of certain files or of all the files that make up the system, during the
development process

How can we use Shared Copy Approach for Software Configuration Management? "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">An additional copy of the entire system directory
structure can be created to store the latest versions of the software.

What are the Problems of not using Software Configuration Management tools ?Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">The copy-over problem, which causes versions of
files to be lost Recovery from inappropriate changes made to the common code is
difficult or impossible The number of uncontrolled copies of files makes it
difficult to determine where the

latest version really exists

What is a Version? Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">A specific instance of a baseline or configuration
item is known as Version.

What is Configuration? Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Configuration is a collection of all the elements
of a baseline and a description of how they fit together.

What is Baseline? Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">One or more software configuration items that have
been formally reviewed and agreed upon and serve as a basis for further
development

What baselines are required to be defined and managed? normal"">mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Typically aligned with major milestones. Applies to
documents as well as code.

How is the current software configuration defined? Arial"">
A snapshot of everything the product has produced at some point in time.

Who must approve changes to baselines?Arial""> mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
Usually the Change Control Board (CCB) must approve changes to baselines.

What is the responsibility of Configuration Control Board? "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Group with the responsibility for reviewing and
approving changes to baselines

How are baselines verified? mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">By reviews, inspections, and the testing of code

How and when are baselines created and physically controlled? Arial"">
Through the use of document control systems, code control tools, and procedures
to prevent the making of unapproved changes

Are baselines tied to project milestones? normal"">mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Many are, but during coding many may not be tied to
project milestones

What is Software Configuration Item?Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">A collection of software elements treated as a unit
for the purposes of Software Configuration Management

What are the components of clear case?Arial"">

Version Control Workspace Management Build Management Process Control

What is Version Control?"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Version Control allows different projects to use
the same source files at the same time It isolates work that is not ready to be
shared by the rest of the project. It isolates work that should never be
shared. It allows software engineers to continue development along a branch
even when a line of development is frozen.

What is the use of Version Control?Arial"">
Allows different projects to use the same source files at the same time
Isolates

work that is not ready to be shared by the rest of the project Isolates work that should never
be shared Allows software engineers to continue development along a branch even
when a line of development is frozen

What is the use of workspace?mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
Software engineers need a consistent and reproducible workspace area (a
sandbox) in which they can develop and debug their code. They need to be able
to share project files while shielding the project from the instability of
their evolving code

What is Change ControlArial;color:blue"">?

Proposed changes to baselines must have some level of review. The impact of proposed changes
must be identified and understood. When appropriate the approval of the CCB,
key managers and project members must be obtained Approved changes must be
properly implemented After changes are made all affected parties must be
notified

What is UCM (Unified Change Management)?normal"">mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">It unifies the activities used to plan and track
project progress with the artifacts being changed.

What is a view?Arial"">
A way of seeing the objects in one or more VOBs (Versioned Object Base) Version
selection is based on user-defined rules

What are the types of Views?Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">There are two types of views. They are Dynamic View:
VOB objects are displayed from the VOB cache Snapshot View: VOB objects are
copied to the client.

What is a view?"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Selects versions of VOB directories and Files. It
enables developers to work in parallel.

What are the different types of checkouts used in modern Software Configuration Management
tools?mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
Modern Software Configuration Management tools support both reserved and
unreserved checkouts.

What is the tool which supports Component-based Development?"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">ClearCase UCM is the tool which support component
-based development.

What is Activity-based Configuration Management?normal"">mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Configuration Management based on task, defect and
enhancement is known as Activity-based Configuration Management.

What is the basic concept of ClearCase UCM?font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
The ClearCase UCM is working on the following two basic concepts activity-based
SCM and component management

What are the SCM activities?Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">The SCM activities are: management and planning of
the SCM process, software configuration identification, software configuration
control, software configuration status accounting, software configuration
auditing, and software release management and delivery.

What is a Build?Arial"">
A build is an operational version of a system or part of a system that
demonstrates a subset of the capabilities to be provided in the final product.
A build comprises one or more implementation elements (often executable), each
constructed from other elements, usually by a process of compilation and
linking of source code.

What is build report?Arial;color:blue"">
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">Build Reports list all the files, their location,
and incorporated changes that make up a build for a specific version of the
software

What are the configuration audit findings?font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"">
The Configuration Audit Findings identify a baseline, any missing required
artifacts, and incompletely tested or failed requirements