“Don’t deploy on Fridays”
We have all heard this phrase countless times during software releases.
Imagine going to the emergency room on Friday night only to be told that they can’t treat you because the doctors aren’t confident in their abilities, equipment, or knowledge.
Or
Picture your flight being delayed on a Friday evening due to the airline’s hesitation about potential mechanical problems that might arise over the weekend.
Doesn’t sound appealing, does it? We understand. Your team probably doesn’t want to spend their weekends fixing bugs that somehow slipped through quality assurance. And it’s tempting to delay deployments until Friday to have an extra day to address any issues. With a clear weekend ahead, your developers might feel less stressed knowing they have a solid product ready to go.
However, there’s another side to this. While not deploying on Fridays might seem beneficial, it can also lead to significant problems. That’s why we’ve gathered insights into the pros and cons of Friday releases.
Why do Fridays feel right?
- Convenience and Timing: For many teams, Friday releases align with the end of the workweek, allowing developers to wrap up their tasks and start fresh on Monday. This timing can be particularly beneficial for teams following agile methodologies, where sprints often end on Fridays.
- Customer Expectations: In a fast-paced digital world, users expect quick updates and fixes. Delaying a release simply because it’s Friday might not align with the agile principles of delivering continuous value to customers. For some companies, especially those with global operations, Friday might actually be the best day to ensure that the update is available by the start of the next business week.
- Team Flexibility: With the rise of remote work and flexible schedules, some teams may prefer to release on a Friday and monitor the release during the weekend at their own pace. This approach can reduce the stress associated with traditional Monday-to-Friday work cycles and provide a more balanced workload.
- Confidence in Automation: For teams that have invested heavily in automated testing, monitoring, and deployment pipelines, the day of the week becomes less of a concern. If your CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) processes are robust, releasing on a Friday should carry no more risk than any other day.
- User Behavior: Depending on the nature of the software, releasing it on a Friday could be beneficial if user activity is lower over the weekend. This can provide a buffer period to observe the system under less strain, allowing for any issues to be addressed with minimal impact.
- Alignment with Business Goals: In some cases, releasing on Friday may align better with business objectives or customer expectations, particularly if there are specific deadlines or events to consider.
Why Friday Releases Are a Risky Gamble
- Limited Support: If major issues arise shortly after a Friday release, support teams may be limited in their ability to respond promptly, as they may be off-duty or dealing with reduced staffing.
- Increased Risk: A Friday release can introduce a higher level of risk, as there’s less time to thoroughly test and address potential issues before the weekend.
- Delayed Feedback Loop: If users encounter issues, they might not report them immediately over the weekend. This delay can slow down the feedback loop, making it harder to diagnose and fix problems in a timely manner.
- Disruption to Weekend Plans: For developers and testers involved in the release process, a Friday release can disrupt their personal plans and potentially lead to increased stress.
What the Community Thinks
The software testing community is divided on this issue. Some professionals advocate for Friday releases, emphasizing the benefits of routine and user engagement. Others strongly oppose it, citing the risks and potential for weekend disruptions.
Proponents argue that with proper planning, automated testing, and robust monitoring systems, the risks associated with Friday releases can be mitigated. They believe that the benefits of user feedback and routine outweigh the potential downsides.
Opponents, however, stress the importance of having full support team’s available post-release. They suggest mid-week releases, such as Tuesdays or Wednesdays, as a safer alternative, providing ample time to address any issues before the weekend.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, the decision to release on Fridays depends on the specific context and needs of the team and organization. It’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons, consider the availability of support, and ensure that robust testing and monitoring systems are in place. By doing so, teams can make informed decisions that balance convenience with risk management.
What are your thoughts on Friday releases? Have you experienced any challenges or benefits with this approach? Share your experiences and join the conversation!