Practical Software Configuration Management

Revision: TE3201_20060318

Course Length:

2 Days

Course Description:

This course covers all of the essential concepts of Software Configuration Management including a brief history, explanation of the terms, and review of the various disciplines, paradigms, and models of product development. Other areas covered include a review of version and change control, discussion of manufacturing and product build issues, introduction to metrics and measurement, and a review of the ins and outs of adopting an SCM solution.

Who Should Attend:

This course is intended for anyone engaged in software, hardware, or document development as a team member who wants to avoid the common pitfalls of bad or non-existent SCM practices.

Benefits of Attendance:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand and use good SCM principles and practices to improve productivity and successfully operate in a team development environment.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Outline:

• Chapter 1: Introduction To The Seminar
  1. Scope and Purpose
  2. Audience
  3. Topics
  4. Why SCM is Important to the Organization
  5. Brief History
• Chapter 2: Basic Concepts Of SCM
  1. Definitions and General Overview
  2. The Heart of the Matter: People, Platform, and Process
  3. The Four Disciplines of Product Development
  4. Development Paradigms and Models
  5. The SCM "Triangle"
  6. Ancillary Components to SCM
  7. Configuration Items (Artifacts)
• Chapter 3: Version Control / Change Control
  1. Definitions and the Differences Between the Two
  2. VC and CC Tools to Accomplish the Task
  3. Managing with Tasks, not Files
• Chapter 4: Manufacturing
  1. Definition of "Product Manufacturing"
  2. Issues that Directly Impact the Ability to Manufacture Your Product
  3. Directory (Build Node) Design
  4. Manufacturing Tools
• Chapter 5: Product Build
  1. What does it Mean to "Build" Product
  2. General Strategies
  3. What to Build
  4. Build Tools
• Chapter 6: Metrics Collection
  1. Introduction to the "Devil’s Playground"
  2. The classic Feedback Control Mechanism
  3. Good Metrics and Bad Metrics
• Chapter 7: Adopting An SCM Solution
  1. Opportunity vs. Responsibility
  2. Factors Impacting a Successful Transition to SCM
  3. SCM Adoption Phases
  4. Understanding the Costs and Savings
  5. Mitigating the Risk Factors