Why Automated Deployment is Important for Software Development
It is common opinion of experts as well as the common users that software development teams should have completely automated deployment process. This is by no means a topic for debate. Instead; it is the conclusion reached on the basis of experience. However the cliché in the issue is that very few software development teams have such process. On the contrary the software development teams have either fully or partly manual deployment process.
Need for Automated Lab Testing
In essence; the entire process of auto-deployment starts with the use of automated lab testing. It is the platform that can help the developer to ensure auto-deployment at a later stage. But like the deficiencies in the case of auto-deployment here also the deficiencies are the absence of a self-contained and fully automated testing process and the existing processes are again semi manual or fully manual.
Meeting the Challenges of Automated Deployment
Developers and end users must appreciate that several challenges are involved in introducing the process of automated deployment. Some of the major challenges are the overhead and effort input required to create, setup, configure, as well as maintain the desired mechanism. Issues involved are financial as well as technical and development of the auto-deployment system involves effective addressing of the challenges involved.
However the use of automated lab testing and deployment are designed for long term benefits and returns on investments. Looking to get only short term results may not be the appropriate way of looking towards setting up an effective auto-deployment process in an enterprise. Bottom line of all these is that to develop life changing software, auto-deployment is a must.