Extensible Change Set Conflict Detection in Configuration Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contemporary configuration management systems face challenges in hiding internally managed resources from users during the delivery process, particularly in cases where internal artifacts are included in change sets, and fail to effectively manage merge gaps and conflicts without user intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for extensible change set conflict and merge gap detection in a record-based configuration management system, where a domain tool indicates to the system which artifacts can be ignored during change set delivery, setting flags to manage version mappings and ensure interdependent artifacts are delivered together, thereby excluding certain artifacts from user-driven delivery mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If internal artifacts are included in change sets for delivery, then the delivery process becomes more complete, but conflict detection and merge gap calculation become inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery completenessVSAvoidconflict detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments artifacts into two categories: user-visible artifacts and internal artifacts. Change sets are divided into user-driven change sets (containing only user-visible artifacts) and system-driven change sets (containing internal artifacts). This segmentation allows conflict detection and merge gap calculation to operate only on user-visible artifacts, maintaining accuracy while still delivering internal artifacts through system-driven mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mediator mechanism where the configuration management system acts as an intermediary between internal artifacts and the delivery process. Internal artifacts are managed separately by the system without user intervention, while user-visible artifacts go through standard conflict detection and merge gap calculation. This mediator approach prevents internal artifacts from interfering with conflict detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users can see and modify internal artifacts, then user control increases, but merge gap calculations become incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidmerge gap calculation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts internal artifacts from the user workspace and change set management process. Internal artifacts are hidden from users and managed exclusively by the system through system-driven change sets. This extraction ensures that users cannot accidentally modify internal artifacts that would corrupt merge gap calculations, while still allowing the system to deliver these artifacts when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service management for internal artifacts, automatically creating and delivering system-driven change sets without user intervention. This self-service approach ensures that internal artifacts are handled correctly without requiring user awareness or action, preventing errors in merge gap calculations while maintaining complete delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If all artifacts are treated equally in change sets, then simplicity is maintained, but domain tool customization needs are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechange set management simplicityVSAvoiddomain tool customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior to change set management by allowing artifacts to have different delivery behaviors based on their type. User-visible artifacts follow standard user-driven change set processes, while internal artifacts follow system-driven change set processes. This dynamic approach enables domain tools to customize the delivery behavior of specific artifact types without complicating the overall system, as each artifact type has its own predetermined delivery rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9971596B2Extensible change set conflict and merge gap detection

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Aspects include extensible change set conflict and merge gap detection in a record-based configuration management system. A method includes instructing the record-based configuration management system to create a change set. The method also includes instructing the record-based configuration management system to add one or more version mappings to a given configuration and to indicate specific concepts which should be flagged as not participating in a process that includes change set conflict and merge gap detection. The record-based configuration management system is instructed to deliver the change set to a requestor.