Overview
Deployment automation refers to automating the deployment of software applications or systems. It involves using various tools, scripts, and technologies to streamline and accelerate deployment, reducing manual effort and potential errors.
Traditionally, software deployment involves manual steps such as copying files, configuring servers, and executing scripts. This manual approach was time-consuming, error-prone, and often resulted in inconsistencies between different environments. Deployment automation addresses these challenges by automating the entire process, from building the software package to deploying it in the target environment.
Deployment Automation Process
An automated deployment process has the following inputs:
Packages created by the continuous integration (CI) process
Scripts to configure the environment, deploy the packages, and perform a deployment test
Environment-specific configuration information.
How to measure quality of deployment automation
Count the number of manual steps in your deployment process.
Work to reduce those steps systematically. The number of manual steps increases the deployment time as well as the opportunity for error.Measure the level (or percentage) of automation in your deployment pipeline.
Work to increase that level continually.Determine the time spent on delays in the deployment pipeline.
As you work to reduce these delays, understand where and why code stalls in your deployment pipeline.
Additional Best Practices
Packaging code in ways suitable for deployment.
Creating pre-configured virtual machine images or containers.
Automating the deployment and configuration of middleware.
Copying packages or files into the production environment.
Restarting servers, applications, or services.
Generating configuration files from templates.
Running automated deployment tests to make sure the system is working and correctly configured.
Running testing procedures.
Scripting and automating database migrations.
Adoption Expectations
| System Components | MVP | MVP+ |
|---|---|---|
Document existing deployment process |
+ |
+ |
Adopt recommended CI\CD tools |
+ |
+ |
Adopt recommended artifacts storage tool |
+ |
+ |
Develop automated deployment script |
+ |
+ |
Track deployments and versions |
+ |
+ |
Use the same packages for every environment |
|
+ |
Define access model and promotion approval process |
|
+ |
Post-deployment automated smoke tests |
|
+ |
Tools
| Functionality | Tool Name |
|---|---|
CI/CD tools |
Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, |
Artifact Management System |
JFrog Artifactory, Azure Artifacts, Azure Container Registry |
Roles
| Name | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
Solution Architect System Architect |
Design and propose cloud native solutions or solutions that supports simple virtualization and containerization |
Build Engineer System Engineer |
Define and document deployment process Create and maintain automated pipelines to deploy solution |
Operations Manager |
Manage teams and activities related to deployment automation |
