🚀 RDPD - Release Driven Product Development

Yesterday we talked about Test-Driven Product Development. Release-driven product development is another perspective.

• Build the release/deployment mechanism before implementing the design.
• Automate as much of the release as possible.
• This includes all assets needed to build/deploy the product.

While this idea is somewhat common in cloud software (continuous delivery), embedded, hardware, and mechanical release mechanisms are usually lacking.

The benefits:

• More prototypes will be built (because it is easy).
• More testing will occur early (because prototypes are available).
• Lots will be learned (happens when people are using prototypes).
• Releasing to manufacturing becomes easy (because it has already been done many times).

Implementing release mechanisms first is a strategic approach, because without doing it first, it likely won't get done. Once something is "finished," there is pressure (from above) to move on to the next development.