Software Configuration Management (SCM) Resources
Table of Contents
SCM Basics
(No resources posted yet)
Configuration Identification
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Configuration Control & Status Accounting
- Risk-Based Configuration Control - Balancing Flexibility with Stability
Configuration Audits
- Software Configuration Auditing Part 1 - Introduction to SCM Audits
- Software Configuration Auditing Part 2 - Functional Configuration Audits
The Westfall Team Posts Metrics, Measures & Analytical Methods Resources.
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Configuration Control & Status Accounting
Risk-Based Configuration Control - Balancing Flexibility with Stability
by Linda Westfall
There is a dichotomy in software configuration management. On one side, individual developers need the flexibility necessary to do creative work, modify code to try out what-if scenarios and make mistakes, learn from them and evolve better software solutions. On the other side, teams need stability to allow code to be shared with confidence, to create builds and perform testing in a consistent environment, and ship high-quality products with confidence.
Configuration Audits
Software Configuration Auditing Part 1 - Introduction to SCM Audits
by Linda Westfall
An audit is a planned and independent evaluation of one or more products, processes, projects, or systems to determine conformance or compliance to a set of agreed to requirements. Auditing is an “objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations.” [Hutchins-03] Audits provide assurance by validating that the product, process, project and/or system are implemented in accordance with their requirements and objectives. Audits are management information activities because they provide ongoing analysis of the degree to which those implementations are effective and efficient, and they identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Audits also visibly demonstrate management’s support for the quality program.
Software Configuration Auditing Part 2 - Functional Configuration Audits
by Linda Westfall
In the first part of this article, we introduced the three different types of Software Configuration Management Audit:
- Functional Configuration Audit (FCA)
- Physical Configuration Audit (PCA)
- In-Process SCM Audits
We also talked about when these audits occur in the software development life cycle
This second part of the article talks about Functional Configuration Audits and their purpose. It will also provide examples of checklists that could be used during FCA evaluations and suggests evidence-gathering techniques for each item in those checklists.
