Software Release Checklist

Ship with confidence and a clear way back.

Checklist steps

  1. Confirm scope and code freeze

    Release notes drafted from merged PRs.

  2. Run the full test suite

    Unit, integration and end-to-end all green on the release branch.

  3. Review database migrations

    Backwards compatible, reversible and tested on a copy.

  4. Write the rollback plan

    Exact steps and who can trigger them.

  5. Deploy to staging and smoke test

    Critical paths verified by a human.

  6. Deploy to production

    Progressive rollout where possible.

  7. Watch monitoring for 30 minutes

    Error rate, latency and key business metrics.

  8. Publish release notes

    Notify support, sales and customers where relevant.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this take?

Around 195 minutes end to end once the team knows the steps. Times per step are listed above.

Can I edit this checklist?

Yes. Save it to LemPlates and you can add, remove or reorder steps, assign owners and set due dates.

How often should this be run?

Run it every time the process happens and review the steps at least every six months.