Code push

The checklist for updating the code running on the live "dreamwidth.org" production site to the most recent version of the code. Admins of other installations will most likely need to alter this checklist based on your site's unique needs.

To do in advance of the push

Check for pushability

Code pushes can be requested for business reasons or by members of the dev team, but the admin doing the push should take a few minutes to check over what will be pushed to make sure all patches are complete and in a releasable state. Before a push, check with Denise, Mark, or Kareila a few hours in advance to see if there are any pull requests in the review queue that should go into the release for business reasons.

Announce in dw_maintenance that a code push is scheduled

Ideally, the comm should be updated a day or so in advance to let people know the timing of the push; at the very least it should be a few hours' notice. Give times in your local timezone and in GMT, and be sure to include the timezone information. Add a link to <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedform.html">Time and Date's Event Time Announcer</a>.

Preparing to push

Update Twitter

Update the @dreamwidth Twitter account when beginning the push to let people know the push is starting.

Update dw_maintenance

When beginning the push, update dw_maintenance again to announce that it's starting. Include a downtime estimate, with an extra 20% or so added on top for unexpected problems.

Spot-check the push

Inform the #dw-dev channel that the push has been completed and the site is back on. Ask them to spot-check a few functions by posting entries, reading their reading page, updating settings, etc. Watch the logs for any errors or problems.

After the push is complete

Update the dw_maintenance entry

Edit the dw-maintenance entry (don't post a new one) with the date/time (in both your local timezone, clearly marked, and in GMT) with a notice that the push has been completed. Let them know that if they spot any issues, they should contact Support or leave a comment.

Update Twitter account

If needed, update the Twitter account again to let people know the push is complete, and that any problems should go to Support or dw-maintenance.

Monitor dw-maintenance entry for a few hours

Make sure someone can stay available for a few hours as dw_maintenance comments come in, in case there's a major issue that needs to be resolved with another push. (You don't need to reply to the comments -- Denise or Kareila will handle that.)

Commit any needed fixes on the release branch

If there is a secondary push to resolve bugs, these commits should go directly on the release branch. The hotfixes will be merged back to the develop branch before the next push.