Software configuration management (SCM) is a set of processes and tools used in software engineering to manage changes to a product. It tracks all modifications, including source code, documentation, and configuration files, ensuring controlled and systematic steps along the way.
In this article, we'll help you understand SCM, why it's essential, how it works, and steps on how to implement it.
Table of Contents
- What Is Software Configuration Management?
- The Importance of Software Configuration Management
- How To Implement Configuration Management in Five Steps?
- Who Are the Participants in Software Configuration Management Processes?
- Top Five Software Configuration Management Tools
- Benefits of Using Software Configuration Management Tools
- Software Configuration Management FAQ
What Is Software Configuration Management?
Software configuration management is an integrative set of procedures and policies designed to track, manage, and organize document changes, codes, defects, and other software modifications. It also serves as the foundation for processes throughout the software development lifecycle.
The Importance of Software Configuration Management
Software configuration management establishes conditions to enable the close tracking of every aspect of the project’s development process to improve efficiency and coordination among team members and minimize the risk of failure.
Well-executed software management processes also reduce the need to address bugs and errors down the line, leading to lower costs and higher-quality output that meets the user's needs.
Moreover, since stakeholders involved in software engineering projects can easily modify elements from different locations, cooperation, communication, and the exchange of relevant information within the team can be difficult without proper management. This disjointedness can lead to serious issues.
For instance, if two or more people are performing modifications on the same software component simultaneously, they could end up overwriting each other's work. Furthermore, their changes could end up conflicting when applied.
When development projects fail, it is often a result of poor project management (i.e., too many changes and stakeholders, and not enough resources), making the implementation of software configuration management crucial to a project’s success.
Software Configuration Management Implementation: 5 Steps
Here's how to implement configuration management in five steps:
1. Planning and Configuration Identification Process
When planning, consider the specifications required for the project to be completed and clearly outline the exact schedule, scope, and goals of each phase. Ask questions like: What is this project's scope? Which code modules, test cases, and other software configuration components are needed to deliver the best product?
Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound) goals, anticipate challenges that may arise along the way, and prepare strategies for addressing them. You also need to know who is responsible for resolving these issues and what resources they have at their disposal.
2. Baseline and Version Control Process
The next step is to identify your baseline. This formally approved version of the project is one of the most important milestones in the software development process. It is designated early on and can only be modified after a formal procedure.
All alterations and modifications to the baseline should be tracked closely. By monitoring all software versions and creating a hierarchy, you can ensure your baseline remains consistent with the requirements you’ve outlined.
3. Change Control Process
The change control process is a systematic approach that reduces errors and inconsistencies. For instance, when a client requests to edit or add certain elements to the software, several steps are needed to review these changes and assess their impact on the project:
- Change Request – Change requests (CR) can come from clients, developers, project managers, and other stakeholders. They are formally documented and include details like the reason, scope, impact, deadline, and other relevant information.
- Review – Each change request goes through management review to assess the resources required, feasibility, and priority.
- Impact Assessment – Further analysis is conducted to evaluate the impact of the change, including additional costs, risks, benefits, and other factors.
- Change Implementation – A detailed plan is created, outlining the tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and tests needed to implement the change seamlessly.
- Validation and Documentation – Procedures, manuals, design documents, and all other relevant documentation are updated to reflect the change. The CR is formally closed after evaluation and feedback.
4. Configuration Status Accounting
Configuration Status Accounting (CSA) reports on and records the status of configurations that have been made or are scheduled to be completed. This process ensures that all stakeholders have access to accurate and up-to-date information about project configurations at any given time.
Outsourcing software development can provide comprehensive support for configuration management tasks, ensuring accurate and efficient processes.
CSA involves these key steps:
- Recording – Configuration data is recorded and updated whenever changes are made to project elements (e.g., new versions, status changes, modification details).
- Status Monitoring and Reporting – Configurations are tracked and recorded from initiation to implementation. A detailed audit trail must be maintained to ensure accountability and traceability for all project changes.
- Verification – All modifications must comply with established requirements.
5. Configuration Audits and Review Processes
This phase ensures all changes made during the software development life cycle comply with control standards and configuration status reports. If you've followed the defined processes, you've likely met your SCM goals.
The software configuration auditing process ends with the creation of various documents for end users, such as:
- Memos
- Release notes
- FAQs
- User manuals
- Installation guides
- Configuration guides
Alternatively, you can consider reaching out to professional software development companies to assist you in completing these complex processes.
Who Are the Participants in Software Configuration Management Processes?
SCM processes have several key participants. These are the people who make up the software development team:
1. Configuration Manager
The configuration manager develops and maintains the Configuration Management Plan (CMP). They establish baselines for all configuration items and then track and manage all change control processes. They also conduct audits and review all configurations.
2. Software Developer
Software developers create the initial code and implement all approved changes. They document all code configurations and maintain version control.
Lead developers ensure the consistency of the workflow and that it aligns with SCM objectives and project requirements.
3. Project Manager
Project managers set schedules and timeframes within which configurations must be completed to ensure the final product is delivered on time. They integrate SCM processes into project management, ensuring efficient collaboration and communication throughout all configurations.
The project manager’s role includes monitoring and reporting progress. They also update all stakeholders about project changes and their implications for the timeline, budget, and available resources.
4. Auditor
Auditors are responsible for all configuration audits and the overall review process. They independently evaluate the project after each configuration to ensure software consistency, integrity, and compliance with local, federal, and industry regulations.
Throughout the software development life cycle, auditors provide objective assessments of configuration activities and identify areas for improvement. They also interview developers, project managers, configuration managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to gather critical insights.
Auditors present their findings to senior management and monitor the implementation of corrective actions if non-conformities are found.
5. User
While end users aren't necessarily direct participants in the SCM processes, they provide critical feedback on the project and report bugs and issues throughout configuration and testing. However, they should have a practical understanding of the software interface and its functions so they can participate effectively in different tests.
Top 5 Software Configuration Management Tools
Software configuration management tools make it easy for development teams to manage source code changes, versions, and configurations. If anything goes wrong, these tools provide insight into the cause of the failure and who is responsible for it.
All changes are recorded in a centralized repository, allowing all team members access to the latest version of the software.
Many software configuration management tools are available today. Here is a list of our top recommendations:
1. Auvik
Auvik is a cloud-based network and software configuration management tool that provides efficient ways to manage distributed networks and devices, such as routine task automation and proactive resolution of critical issues.
It also provides backup and disaster recovery support by maintaining up-to-date device configuration backups and allowing instant restoration of any configuration from the version history.
With Auvik, users are assured of proper network visibility and control, real-time network mapping and inventory, and deep insights into network traffic and automated network monitoring, which they can access from anywhere.
Key features:
- Network visibility and IT asset management
- Network performance monitoring and troubleshooting
- Configuration backup and recovery
- Intelligent network traffic analysis
- Network access and navigation
- Distributed site management
- Robust privacy and security
- Workflow automation with Auvik APIs.
Pricing: Users can sign up for a 14-day free trial or schedule a demo with the sales team. Essentials and Performance plans require custom quotes.
2. CFEngine
CFEngine allows you to securely manage critical configuration tasks, ensuring that your systems are always up-to-date and configured according to your business policies. Whether you choose the open-source or commercial version, CFEngine provides a flexible, scalable, and reliable solution for configuration management.
Key features:
- Real-time compliance levels
- Performance monitoring
- Custom alerts and actions
- Customizable and shareable dashboards
Pricing: Open-source (Community) and commercial (Enterprise) versions are available. Enterprise has a free trial for 25 hosts, after which pricing details are available upon request.
3. Ansible
Red Hat’s Ansible is an open-source software configuration management tool that provides a simple IT automation solution for configuration management, deployment, and orchestration. By automating the entire IT infrastructure and eliminating manual repetitive tasks, Ansible improves productivity and frees up developer teams for more strategic work.
Key features:
- Application deployment
- Orchestration
- Cloud provisioning
- Security and Compliance
Pricing: Ansible is available in Standard and Premium plans, each with different features and levels of support. Pricing is based on the number of nodes and is available by request.
4. Puppet
Puppet is an open-source software configuration management tool that employs a master-slave architecture, where nodes pull configurations from the main, enabling efficient management and deployment of servers.
Its flexibility and automation capabilities make it a popular choice for large-scale systems and organizations.
Key features:
- Automated IT structure provisioning
- Complete control and visibility over the software delivery process
- Event inspection
- Orchestration
Pricing: The open-source version is entirely free. The price of the Enterprise and Enterprise Advanced version depends on team size and is available upon request.
5. Progress CHEF
CHEF is an automation platform with an infrastructure configuration and management interface. This tool uses DSL and Ruby for configurations.
Key features:
- Multiple platform support
- Risk management control
- Scalability
- Real-time data insights
Pricing: Open-source CHEF is free, while hosted package prices vary between $120 and $700 per month, depending on the number of users and nodes.
Benefits of Using Software Configuration Management Tools
Software configuration management tools provide these advantages to development teams:
Improved Team Members Collaboration
SCM tools have many valuable features for seamless collaboration, such as version control, which enables developers to manage different versions of the same code, monitor changes, and go back to previous versions when necessary.
Collaboration features make it easy to manage complex software projects and ensure all code versions are backed up. Moreover, team members and stakeholders are on the same page and work efficiently toward a common goal.
Better Productivity
SCM tools automate routine tasks, freeing developers' time to focus on more complex work and leading to more efficient development cycles and better productivity.
Version control features facilitate managing complex software projects and ensure that code is always up to date, improving error detection and reducing the risk of lost work and downtime.
Improved Quality of Software Solutions
With SCM tools, developers and project stakeholders can easily track all changes made to the code and access a detailed audit trail to identify issues, track progress, and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Cost Reduction
SCM tools enable the timely detection of code errors and irregularities, which gives developers a chance to react immediately. In this way, stagnation is prevented, which results in effective control of software development costs.
Software Configuration Management FAQ
What does software configuration management mean?
Software configuration management (SCM) refers to a set of tools and conditions that manage and control changes in software during its development life cycle. SCM monitors all software configuration items (SCI), such as source code, documentation, test studies, and executable files.
By controlling these elements, SCM prevents errors and ensures the final product is high-quality and delivered within the budget and given time frame.
What are the four main functions of software configuration management?
The four primary functions of software configuration management are:
- Identification – Software components are identified and documented, ensuring they can quickly be found at any stage of the software life cycle.
- Change Control – All changes in software components are documented. Configurations are tracked closely, ensuring they are implemented correctly and consistently.
- Audit – Configuration auditing is a process that checks and confirms the proper implementation of software changes following requirements and standards.
- Configuration Status Accounting – SCM records when, why, and what kind of change is made in software code and who made it.
What is the need for software configuration management?
Manually managing software configuration is impossible, as there are too many components to track. SCM documents all versions of software components, with each change recorded meticulously. It also facilitates collaboration among team members and ensures quality standards are met in all software configuration stages. This prevents irregularities in operations, minimizing the risk of time delays, financial losses, and penalties.
