Application Configuration Manager for Stage-Specific Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current software development lifecycle management lacks efficient methods for configuring and migrating applications across different development stages, leading to increased time and effort in manual interventions and potential downtime during stage transitions.

Innovation Solution

A system that maps software development stages to stage-specific configurations, allowing for efficient selection and application of configurations for each stage, reducing the need for manual interventions and minimizing downtime during migrations by using an application configuration manager and data repository to manage and apply stage-specific settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration methods are used for each software development stage, then flexibility in customization is improved, but time consumption and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration system is segmented into multiple configuration files, each corresponding to a specific software development stage (development, testing, staging, production). This allows the system to load only the relevant configuration for the current stage, reducing configuration time while maintaining the ability to customize each stage independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Configuration files are prepared in advance for each software development stage before deployment. The system automatically selects and applies the appropriate pre-prepared configuration based on the current stage, eliminating the need for manual configuration during stage transitions and significantly reducing configuration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual intervention is used during stage transitions, then configuration accuracy can be verified, but downtime increases during migrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidmigration downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically selecting and applying the appropriate configuration file based on the current software development stage. The configuration manager reads environment variables or command-line arguments to determine the stage and loads the corresponding configuration without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining accuracy while minimizing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through environment variables and configuration validation that automatically verify the correctness of the selected configuration. This ensures configuration accuracy is maintained while eliminating manual verification steps that would increase downtime during stage transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple configuration files are maintained for different stages, then stage-specific settings are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestage-specific configurationVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration manager serves multiple functions: it automatically detects the current software development stage, selects the appropriate configuration file, validates the configuration, and applies it. This single universal component handles all configuration management tasks across different stages, reducing overall system complexity despite maintaining multiple stage-specific configuration files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If configuration migration is performed manually between stages, then error detection is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror detectionVSAvoidconfiguration migration speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of configuration migration is replaced with an automated electronic system. The configuration manager automatically reads environment variables, selects the appropriate configuration file, and applies it programmatically. This substitution maintains error detection through validation mechanisms while dramatically increasing configuration migration speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10713041B1Application configuration manager

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

Techniques for configuring applications are disclosed. A system maps software development stages to respective stage-specific configurations in two or more sets of stage-specific configurations. The system selects a software development stage for configuring an instance of an application. Responsive to selection of the software development stage, the system configures the instance of the application based at least on: a stage-specific configuration, in a set of stage-specific configurations, corresponding to the software development stage; and another stage-specific configuration, in another set of stage-specific configurations, corresponding to the software development stage. The system executes the instance of the application based at least on the stage-specific configurations from the sets of stage-specific configurations.