Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Software deployment
Also known as: Deployment
German: Softwarebereitstellung
In software engineering, software deployment is the set of activities that make a software release available for use on target systems, including installation, configuration, activation and verification.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
Software deployment covers the activities that make a release usable on target systems: installing, configuring, activating and verifying it.
Example
The new line software is deployed during the weekend shutdown: the PLC programs are downloaded, the HMI is updated and a functional test confirms each station.
How it applies
- Engineering: Automated deployment reduces manual errors and makes deployments repeatable. In OT, deployment is often constrained by production schedules and requires machines to be stopped.
- Commissioning: After deployment, a defined check, such as a Functional test of affected functions, confirms that the system works as intended; safety functions may require separate verification.
- Documentation: Deployment instructions list prerequisites, steps, verification and Rollback. Record what was deployed where and when; this record supports service and audits.
Deployment vs. release
A release is the approved version of the software. Deployment is putting it onto specific systems. One release can be deployed many times, at different times, at different sites.