Configuration File Inheritance for Cloud Pipelines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated application-release-management systems face challenges in efficiently modifying and executing configuration files across different distributed systems, leading to significant administrative burdens due to the complexity and variability of configuration files required for application-release pipelines.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of configuration-file inheritance allows multiple configuration files to be combined, enabling substitutions and additions to produce a single product configuration file, simplifying the modification process and enabling execution on diverse distributed systems by processing hierarchical file structures and ordering configuration files for inheritance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If configuration files are manually modified for each distributed system, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but administrative burden and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses template configuration files as reusable copies that can be instantiated across multiple distributed systems. Instead of manually creating unique configuration files for each system, administrators can copy and adapt templates, significantly reducing repetitive manual work while maintaining configuration accuracy through the standardized template structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements pre-configured template files that contain common configuration settings prepared in advance. These templates are designed beforehand with typical configurations for different system types, allowing administrators to start with a ready-made base rather than creating configurations from scratch for each new system deployment.
2Productivity
If configuration files are standardized across all systems, then administrative efficiency improves, but adaptability to specific system requirements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments configuration files into hierarchical sections: common/standardized portions defined in templates and system-specific portions that can be customized. This segmentation allows the standardized parts to improve efficiency while the customizable parts maintain adaptability to specific system requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different levels of configuration standardization - some configuration sections are standardized across all systems while other sections are customized for specific system requirements. This enables efficient standardization where applicable while maintaining necessary flexibility for system-specific adaptations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration files are customized for each distributed system, then system-specific requirements are met, but complexity of configuration management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested configuration structure where system-specific configurations are nested within standardized templates. The template provides the outer framework with common settings, while system-specific customizations are nested inside as configurable parameters or overrides, creating a hierarchical organization that reduces overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal template configurations that can serve multiple distributed systems with similar requirements. These multi-functional templates reduce complexity by providing a single reusable configuration model that can be adapted to various systems rather than creating separate unique configurations for each one.
4Reliability
If manual configuration modification processes are used, then configuration control is maintained, but error rates increase due to human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables configuration files to be automatically generated and updated through template processing mechanisms. Instead of manual copying and modification that introduces human errors, the system automatically processes templates into system-specific configurations, maintaining control through automated rules while eliminating manual transcription errors.
Data Source
AI summary
The current document is directed to automated application-release-management facilities that, in a described implementation, coordinate continuous development and release of cloud-computing applications. The application-release-management process is specified, in the described implementation, by application-release-management pipelines, each pipeline comprising one or more stages, with each stage comprising one or more tasks. The currently described methods and systems employ configuration files to specify configuration of the execution environment for application-release-management pipelines, application-release-management-pipeline stages, and application-release-management-pipeline-stage tasks.