Software Build Best Practices

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Software Build Best Practices

This page discusses the practices and processes that allow for dependable and reproducible software builds.

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Using a secure and dedicated build server

• Eliminates unauthorized access to make changes in the server configuration
• Reduces the risk the creation of unknown build dependencies
• Reduces build time because the build is not fighting other processes and application for server resources

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Fully Automate the Build Process

• Ensures repeatability and reproducibility of the build process
• Eliminates risk of human error in the build process

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Daily full system builds

• Ensures that the full system is always in a build-able state
• Allows for daily test runs on the daily build

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Continuous Integration builds

• Protects that the Daily full system build will complete successfully
• Immediate success or failure feedback of developer check-ins

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On build completion, deploy and run unit and smoke tests as part of your automation

• In addition to ensuring the system is in a build-able state, this ensures the system's runtime works

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Building in a clean workspace

• Ensures no unexpected build or runtime dependencies are created

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Require all necessary files be checked-in prior to the build

• Ensures that the required source and build files are properly under source code control
• Helps with build reproducibility

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Label the source code in each build with a unique identifier

• Ensures every build is repeatable and reproducible

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Create a BOM

BOM, bill of materials, of the source code versions for each build

• Visual confirmation of the source code versions in the build
• Aids in developer debugging of builds

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Create a build manifest of the build artifacts

• Visual confirmation of build artifacts

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Create and keep your build logs

• Builds an audit trail
• Debugging tool for builders and developers

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Send build status emails

• Proactive build notification of success or failure

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Track release baselines

• Ensures reproducibility of software release

Following Software Build Best Practices helps ensure that your development environment is always in a state to build.

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Software Build Links

Automated Build Process

Continuous Integration

CruiseControl

Maven

Software Build Best Practices

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