Configure

In computing generally, to configure is to make an arrangement of interdependent hardware and software components on a given system (computer, machine).

In the context of USoft Delivery Manager, rather more narrowly, Configure is the operation of tailoring deliverables (or the way in which they are deployed) to the required situation on a specific target machine. For example, you may want a USoft web application to log information to a file in a folder called

Best practice is to keep configuration to a minimum. If you have no special reason to name a USoft log directory differently between target machines (or even between a target machine and Development), then you should choose the same folder name on each machine.

Delivery Manager supports 2 special configuration strategies. They are both optional. If you want to use them, you will have to script parameters and values yourself, but Delivery Manager proposes an effective and manageable framework in which you can do this.

Configuration strategy

Use for

Requires

Configuration by variable substitution

XML-based and text-based deliverables

Parameterisation on the basis of name-value pairs

Parameterisation by target computer

Parameterisation by something else than target computer, eg., environment, instance, user, etc.

Same variable substituted in multiple places

Find-and-replace in text-oriented deliverables

Understanding of simple, standardised XSLT mechanisms as exemplified in Delivery Manager sample code

Configuration by XSL transformation

XML-based deliverables only

More complex substitutions (transformations)

Changes that include additions and deletions

Changes that include redistribution of information across files

Creation of additional deliverables

Ability to implement XSLT 1.0 transformations