What would you do if there is a release scheduled tomorrow and QA identifies a bug and dev has fixed it in develop. This bug is critical for one of the application that is not widely used however this release involves several other key changes that needs to go live. What would you recommend as a release engineer.

Question

Accepted Answer

Recommend prioritizing the critical bug fix and delaying the release for the application

Prioritize the critical bug fix for the application that is not widely used
Coordinate with QA and dev teams to ensure the bug fix is thoroughly tested
Communicate with stakeholders about the delay in release and the reasons behind it

Accepted Answer

1. Assess the Situation
Bug Severity: Confirm the severity and impact of the bug on the application’s functionality and user experience.
Business Impact: Determine how critical the bug is for the users and business operations. If it's a less-used application, the risk might be acceptable.
Key Changes: Evaluate the importance and urgency of the other changes in the release.
2. Gather Stakeholders
Convene a quick meeting with key stakeholders, including QA, developers, product owners, and business leaders, to discuss the issue.
Provide all necessary information:
The bug's impact.
The status of the fix (develop branch).
Risks associated with delaying or proceeding with the release.
3. Evaluate Options and Recommendations
Option 1: Deploy the Release with the Fix

Recommendation: If time permits, merge the fix from the develop branch into the release branch, test it, and include it in tomorrow's release.
Conditions for Proceeding:
Ensure the fix is well-tested in QA or staging.
Have a rollback plan if unforeseen issues arise post-deployment.
Option 2: Proceed with the Release Without the Fix

Recommendation: If the bug has a limited impact and the other key changes are urgent, proceed with the release as planned.
Conditions for Proceeding:
Schedule a hotfix release specifically for the bug shortly after the main release.
Clearly communicate the plan to stakeholders and users.
Option 3: Delay the Release

Recommendation: If the bug's impact is critical enough to outweigh the importance of the other key changes, postpone the release.
Conditions for Proceeding:
Communicate the delay and the rationale to stakeholders.
Test the bug fix thoroughly before rescheduling the release.
4. Communicate the Decision
Document the chosen approach and the rationale behind it.
Notify all relevant teams and stakeholders about the updated release plan.
5. Monitor and Follow-Up
If the fix is included, closely monitor the deployment for any issues.
If proceeding without the fix, prioritize the hotfix and ensure timely delivery.
Conduct a retrospective post-release to identify process improvements for handling such scenarios.
Key Considerations
Risk vs. Reward: Balance the urgency of the release against the potential risk of deploying without the fix.
Transparency: Keep stakeholders informed at every step to ensure alignment and avoid surprises.
Preparedness: Have a robust rollback and monitoring plan for any scenario.
This approach ensures agility and reliability in handling last-minute issues without compromising the release.

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