Key Highlights
- Learn how to align the release pipeline with different environments.
- See the importance of tailoring configurations and tools.
- Explore 10 essential steps to configure pipelines effectively.
- Discover how automation and testing ensure reliable deployments.
You might already know that the release pipeline itself typically follows the same overall structure or sequence (e.g., build, test, stage, deploy) regardless of the environment, but did you know that the configurations, tools, steps, environment-specific variables, permissions, and deployment configurations within thine must be tailored to each environment’s needs?
I presume you answered yes, but here is another question: do you know the main steps to configuring your release Pipeline depending on the Environment?
Let’s move forward, and I’ll show you how to ensure that the software behaves correctly and meets requirements at every stage.
What is a Release Pipeline?
Before we begin, let's recap some basics. I’ll introduce the concept and key components of a release pipeline. If you’re already familiar with these, feel free to skip to the next section. For those who need a deeper explanation, we have a comprehensive guide on the release process, another term for a release pipeline.
A release pipeline, also known as a release workflow or release process, refers to the automated sequence of steps used to move software from development to production (or other deployment environments). While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, "release pipeline" is the term most commonly used in DevOps and CI/CD practices.
It functions like an assembly line, where code is built, tested, and deployed consistently and reliably. This process ensures everything is handled systematically, reducing human error and enabling faster deployments. Each step prepares the software for the next stage until it’s ready for users.

Key Stages of a Release Pipeline
Build Stage
The pipeline compiles your code and prepares it for testing. Depending on your setup, it might also bundle it into a package or container.
Environment: Development. This step typically happens in the development environment where code is prepared for further stages. The pipeline might focus on rapid builds and lightweight tests to enable fast feedback for developers.
Testing Stage
This step runs automated tests, such as unit, integration, and performance tests, to ensure the code works as expected. If any test fails, the pipeline stops, allowing developers to fix issues before proceeding.
Environment: Testing. This dedicated environment is designed to validate the code. It could include more extensive testing on the pipeline, such as integration or performance tests, to ensure stability.
Staging/Pre-production
The software is deployed to a staging environment that mirrors production. This step allows teams to test how the application performs under conditions similar to the live environment without impacting users.
Environment: Staging/Pre-production. This stage ensures the software is ready for release. The pipeline might involve deploying to a staging environment that closely mirrors production, allowing teams to validate the application in near-real-world conditions.
Deployment Stage
Once everything looks good, the software is deployed to the production environment, making it accessible to end users.
Environment: Production. At this stage, the software is fully live. The pipeline often includes additional checks or approvals to ensure only thoroughly tested and reviewed changes reach end users.
Why Use a Release Pipeline?
Deployments without a pipeline can feel chaotic, involving manual steps, miscommunication, or mismatched configurations. A release pipeline introduces structure, bringing several benefits:
It helps ensure that each release is predictable and error-free. To assist you further, we prepared a Release Checklist with key items and information you need to ensure great releases.
Download the Release Checklist
Get access to the Google Sheet used by our Release Management community.
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10 Steps to Configuring Your Release Pipeline for Different Environments
1. Understand and define Your Deployment Environments
Start by listing all the environments your application will move through, such as:
Development: For internal testing and rapid iteration.
Testing/QA: To validate features and bug fixes.
Staging: A near-production environment for final verification.
Production: The live environment your end-users interact with.
Each environment may have unique configurations, dependencies, and requirements. If you are looking for deeper information about environments, I recommend reading our article Deployment Environment, All you need to Know.
2. Standardize Environment Configurations
Create standardized and centralized configuration files for each environment using tools like Docker Compose, Kubernetes ConfigMaps, or environment-specific .env files.
Use environment variables to store configuration data like API keys, database URLs, or feature flags.
Store sensitive data securely with tools like Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or HashiCorp Vault.
Keep non-sensitive configuration files version-controlled in your repository.
Centralizing these resources ensures a single source of truth for your deployments and prepares you for an automation process.
3. Use a Version Control System
Maintain your pipeline configuration in a version control system like Git. This approach enables better collaboration, rollback options, and easier troubleshooting.
4. Define Environment-Specific Variables
Configure variables, such as URLs, database credentials, and feature toggles, specific to each environment. Many CI/CD tools allow you to store these variables securely.
5. Automate with CI/CD Tools
Set up a CI/CD tool such as Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or GitHub Actions to automate the process. Use pipelines-as-code to define the steps for building, testing, and deploying your application for each environment.
- Define pipeline stages: Start with steps like build, test, and deploy.
- Create environment-specific jobs: Ensure each stage has configurations suited to its environment.
- Implement approval gates: For example, require manual approval before deploying to production.
- Set up rollback strategies: Automate rollbacks to a previous version in case of failure.
This approach reduces manual effort and increases confidence in your releases. Therefore, the next step ends up being fundamental... using the correct infrastructure.
6. Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Infrastructure as Code tools helps you provision and manage environments in a repeatable way. Tools like Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, or Pulumi are excellent choices. Benefits of using IaC include:
Consistent environment setups across development, testing, and production.
Version-controlled infrastructure changes.
Faster recovery from failures by reapplying known configurations.
For example, you can use Terraform scripts to define your cloud resources, ensuring they’re identical in staging and production. Now, time to monitor and test.
7. Add Deployment Conditions
Introduce rules for deployments. For example, allow staging deployment only after successful tests in the testing environment. For production deployments, approvals from team leads or managers may be required.
8. Include Rollback Options
Prepare a rollback mechanism in case something doesn’t go as planned. This could include keeping a copy of the last successful deployment or using versioned containers.
9. Monitor and Test Thoroughly
Integrate monitoring tools like Datadog or Prometheus to track deployments and identify potential issues. Perform extensive testing in each environment to verify readiness.
Here’s what to focus on:
Automated Tests: Run unit, integration, and end-to-end tests for each environment.
Environment Health Checks: Use tools like Prometheus or New Relic to monitor the performance and availability of each deployment.
Post-Deployment Validation: Set up scripts to validate the deployment after it’s live in staging or production.
Continuous testing and monitoring help catch issues early and maintain confidence in your pipeline, ensuring that others can follow the process with greater clarity.
10. Document the Process
Write down every step of your release pipeline to ensure consistency and help team members follow it correctly.
Share this documentation with your team to:
Onboard new team members quickly.
Ensure consistent practices across teams.
Maintain alignment on deployment strategies.
Use wikis, internal knowledge bases, or README files to keep this information accessible.
Golive can support this process by helping you manage multiple environments with improved visibility and control, ensuring your pipeline aligns with each environment's unique needs.
Conclusion
These practices ensure that the pipeline supports consistent and efficient software delivery while aligning team efforts effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Customize for Each Environment: Adapt configurations, tools, and steps for development, testing, staging, and production.
- Automate with CI/CD: Use tools to ensure consistent, efficient, and error-free deployments.
- Use Consistent Infrastructure: Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for reliable setups across environments.
- Test and Monitor Continuously: Validate software behavior and catch issues early in every stage.
- Document Everything: Ensure clear processes for alignment and consistency across teams.
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