Application-release automation (ARA) refers to the process of packaging and deploying an application or update of an application from development, across various environments, and ultimately to production.[1] ARA solutions must combine the capabilities of deployment automation, environment management and modeling, and release coordination.[2]
ARA tools help cultivate DevOps best practices by providing a combination of automation, environment modeling and workflow-management capabilities. These practices help teams deliver software rapidly, reliably and responsibly. ARA tools achieve a key DevOps goal of implementing continuous delivery with a large quantity of releases quickly. [3]
ARA is more than just software-deployment automation – it deploys applications using structured release-automation techniques that allow for an increase in visibility for the whole team.[4] It combines workload automation and release-management tools as they relate to release packages, as well as movement through different environments within the DevOps pipeline.[5] ARA tools help regulate deployments, how environments are created and deployed, and how and when releases are deployed.[6]
All ARA solutions must include capabilities in automation, environment modeling, and release coordination. Additionally, the solution must provide this functionality without reliance on other tools. [7]