阅读中文版本

Environment Version Matrix Workflow

Document and manage which versions run in each environment so support and upgrade planning rest on facts.

Overview

Maintain a clear version matrix across environments to support upgrade planning.

This workflow is reusable across teams and environments; adapt the commands to your tooling while keeping the sequence and checkpoints intact.

Environment and prerequisites

• Deployment metadata
• A matrix document or dashboard
• Upgrade policies

Procedure

1. Record versions per environment

Capture application and dependency versions running in each environment.

Expected state: A version matrix exists and is current.

2. Identify skew

Find environments running versions that differ from the intended standard.

Expected state: Undesired version skew is visible.

3. Plan upgrades

Sequence upgrades to close skew without breaking dependencies.

Expected state: Upgrades are planned, not ad hoc.

4. Keep the matrix current

Update the matrix automatically from deployment data.

Expected state: The matrix does not go stale.

# list deployed versions by environment
for env in dev staging prod; do echo "$env: $(deploy_info --env $env --version)"; done

Verification

Confirm the matrix is current, skew is identified, and upgrades follow the plan.

Decision points

Standardise versions or allow skew?

• Minimise skew, allow justified exceptions
• Allow full independence

Recommendation: Minimise version skew; justified exceptions should be documented.

Manual or automated matrix?

• Automated from deployment data
• Manually updated

Recommendation: Automate so the matrix cannot go stale.

Common failures

• Unknown version skew causes support confusion.
• Ad-hoc upgrades create dependency surprises.
• A stale matrix misleads planning.