The Software Distribution Lifecycle Interview
Blog post from Replicated
Replicated's Commercial Software Distribution Life Cycle is designed to facilitate the distribution of self-hosted enterprise software by independent software vendors, drawing parallels with the DevOps life cycle but tailored to the unique requirements of enterprise environments. Developed through conversations with thousands of vendors, this life cycle addresses several stages including development, testing, release, licensing, installation, reporting, and support. Each stage focuses on specific challenges such as creating portable applications, testing across diverse environments, managing complex release schedules, enforcing licensing controls, accommodating varied installation needs, and providing robust support. Replicated aims to streamline these processes with purpose-built solutions like their SDK, Compatibility Matrix, and support services, enabling vendors to efficiently deliver, deploy, and operate their software in customer environments, thereby allowing them to focus on core application development. The life cycle is continuous, integrating customer feedback into development and testing, with a mission to make the distribution of self-hosted software a strategic business advantage for vendors.