Canary release

Type

Versatility

Definition

Canary releases are a valuable strategy for managing software deployments with reduced risk and early feedback opportunities. They are particularly beneficial for applications with large user bases, frequent updates, or high-risk changes.

How-to set it up:

• Identify a subset of users: This can be done randomly, based on specific criteria (e.g., location, user type), or by inviting volunteers.
• Deploy the new version to the canary group: This version can be identical to the planned wider release or a slightly modified version for additional testing.
• Monitor the canary group closely: Track key metrics like performance, functionality, error rates, and user feedback.
• Analyze results: If no significant issues are found, gradually roll out the new version to larger groups or the entire user base. If issues arise, address them and potentially revert to the previous version if necessary.

Benefits:

• Reduced risk: If something goes wrong, it only affects a limited number of users, minimizing the impact.
• Early feedback: Valuable insights can be gathered to identify and fix issues before wider release.
• Gradual rollout: Allows for adjustments and improvements based on initial user feedback.
• Confidence boost: Successful canary releases can increase confidence in the wider deployment.

Things to consider:

• Complexity: Requires additional infrastructure and monitoring compared to standard releases.
• Potential delays: Depending on the canary group's size and feedback, wider rollout might be delayed.
• Communication: Keeping users informed about the canary release and potential changes is crucial.

Example

You're a developer who just built a new version of your popular mobile app with exciting new features.

Instead of pushing the update to all users at once, you decide to use a canary release:

• Identify your canary group: Select a small percentage of users, perhaps 10%, to be part of the initial rollout. This group might be based on specific criteria like user type, location, or device model.
• Deploy the new version: Release the new app version only to the canary group.
• Monitor closely: Track closely for any crashes, bugs, or performance issues reported by the canary users. You might use automated monitoring tools and feedback channels to gather data.
• Analyze and iterate: If no major issues are found, gradually increase the rollout percentage to a larger group (e.g., 20%) and continue monitoring. If significant problems arise, you can pause the rollout, fix the issues, and re-deploy to the canary group before proceeding further.
• Full rollout: Once confident about the stability and performance of the new version, gradually roll it out to all remaining users.