Release Orchestrator Pre-Release Version Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software update processes in cloud services lack efficient pre-release, version-specific testing, leading to potential disruptions and unsatisfactory customer experiences due to the absence of pre-validation of updated application versions before transitioning production traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that includes a release orchestrator and a pre-release, version-specific tester to automatically select and run tests on updated application versions before production traffic transition, using version rules and failure rules to determine whether to validate and transition traffic, thereby ensuring seamless updates without service degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-release, version-specific testing is implemented, then reliability of software updates is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into distinct modular components: a release orchestrator that manages release workflows, a version-specific test selector that chooses appropriate tests, and a test execution engine that runs selected tests. This segmentation allows each component to have a specialized function, improving reliability while managing complexity through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary testing actions before production traffic transition by automatically selecting and executing version-specific tests against the updated application version in a staging environment. This preliminary validation ensures reliability by catching issues before they reach production, while the automation reduces the perceived complexity through pre-configured test suites and workflows.
2Productivity
If automated pre-release testing is implemented, then productivity of release process is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release system implements self-service automation where the release orchestrator automatically triggers test selection and execution based on the updated version being deployed. The system selects appropriate version-specific tests without manual intervention and automatically executes them against the staging environment, improving release productivity while the self-automating nature reduces operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where test results are automatically captured and analyzed by the release orchestrator. Based on test outcomes, the system provides feedback to determine whether to proceed with production traffic transition, enabling automated decision-making that improves productivity while the structured feedback loops manage complexity through clear pass/fail criteria and automated remediation workflows.
3Manufacturing precision
If version-specific test selection is implemented, then manufacturing precision of testing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test management system implements local quality by maintaining separate, version-specific test suites tailored to the particularities of each application version. Instead of using a generic test set, the system selects tests that are specifically relevant to the version being released, improving testing precision. The complexity is managed by organizing tests in a structured hierarchy where version-specific tests are clearly defined and associated with specific version requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes to manage test selection precision by varying test configuration parameters based on the specific version being released. The release orchestrator adjusts test parameters such as test suite selection, environment configuration, and validation criteria according to the version-specific requirements. This parameter-driven approach improves manufacturing precision of testing while managing complexity through configurable parameters rather than hard-coded logic.
Data Source
AI summary
Upon receiving instructions from a release orchestrator to validate a second application version prior to a transition to sending production traffic to the second application version instead of a first application version, a determination of an application version identifier for a second application version is performed. Tests are selected based on the application version identifier and version rules. The tests are performed by sending test traffic to the second application version via a routing engine while the routing engine routes production traffic to the first application version. Based on the responses to the test traffic, a determination that any failure rules for any of the tests that failed indicate that on a failure the transition should not occur is performed. Responsive to that determination, a communication to the release orchestrator that the second application version is not validated for production traffic and the transition should not occur is performed.