Progressive delivery vs. smoke test: Choosing a deployment strategy
Progressive delivery is a software development approach that involves gradually rolling out new features or updates to a small subset of users before releasing them to the entire user base. This allows for early feedback and minimizes the risk of widespread issues. On the other hand, a smoke test is a quick and basic test that is performed to check if the software build is stable enough for further testing. While progressive delivery focuses on gradual rollout and user feedback, smoke tests ensure basic functionality and stability before further testing.
About the progressive delivery strategy
Progressive delivery is a deployment strategy that involves gradually rolling out new features or updates to a small subset of users before making them available to everyone. This allows developers to test changes in a real-world environment and gather feedback before full release.
By using progressive delivery, developers can mitigate the risk of introducing bugs or issues that could impact all users at once. It also allows for more controlled and efficient deployment of updates, ensuring a smoother transition for users and minimizing disruption to the overall system.
Advantages of the progressive delivery strategy
- Allows for gradual rollout of new features or updates, reducing the risk of widespread issues.
- Enables teams to gather feedback from a smaller group of users before full deployment, helping to identify and address potential issues early on.
Disadvantages of the progressive delivery strategy
- Requires more time and effort to manage and monitor multiple deployment stages.
- May lead to complexity in the deployment process, especially for larger applications or organizations.
About the smoke test strategy
A smoke test in software deployment is a preliminary test run to check if the basic functionalities of the application are working properly. It is usually done before more comprehensive testing to catch any major issues early on.
By running a smoke test, developers can quickly identify any critical issues that may prevent the application from functioning properly in a live environment. This helps ensure a smoother deployment process and reduces the risk of major failures during production.
Advantages of the smoke test strategy
- Helps quickly identify major issues before full deployment.
- Saves time and resources by catching critical errors early.
Disadvantages of the smoke test strategy
- May not catch all bugs or hidden issues.
- Can create a false sense of security if only basic functionality is tested.
Choosing between progressive delivery and smoke test strategies
| Progressive Delivery | Smoke Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | Increases reliability by gradually rolling out new features to a small subset of users before full release. | Provides a basic check to ensure that the most critical functionalities of the software are working. |
| Cost | Can be more costly due to the need for additional infrastructure for feature flagging and monitoring. | Typically less costly as it involves running a quick test to verify basic functionality. |
| Complexity | Involves more complex setup and management of feature flags, requiring more planning and coordination. | Simple process focusing on a quick verification of core functionalities. |
| Speed | Slower initial deployment as new features are gradually rolled out, but can speed up the overall release process. | Faster initial deployment as it only checks basic functionality, but may lead to delays if issues are found. |
The Unleash approach to feature flags
Feature flags enable development teams to manage features in a dynamic, flexible, and controlled manner.
Unleash is a secure, enterprise feature management platform available as open source or as monthly service. Choose your preferred deployment and get started in minutes.
