Training activity information
Details
Deploy and validate an application using an appropriate technology
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Validating using code
- Good programming practice including version control system, appropriate software tools etc.
- Local standards and guidelines
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What are the key considerations for deploying a software application in a relevant environment? What constitutes ‘appropriate’ deployment technology? How will you validate that the deployed application is functioning correctly?
- What experience do you hope to gain in the process of deploying software using different technologies (e.g., containerisation)? What insights do you expect to gain into the challenges of making software accessible and functional for end-users? How will this DTA enhance your understanding of the software development lifecycle beyond coding?
- What deployment technologies (as mentioned in the learning outcomes or indicative content) will you explore? How will you plan the steps involved in deploying your application? What testing procedures will you put in place to validate the deployed application? What are your initial thoughts on the deployment environment and validation strategy?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions during deployment and validation.
- How are you currently approaching the process of deploying the application to the target environment?
- What deployment technologies or methods are you using?
- How are you subsequently validating that the deployed application is functioning correctly in the new environment?
- What decisions are you making regarding the deployment configuration, the testing procedures for validation, and any rollback strategies?
- What aspects of application deployment and validation feel intuitive based on your understanding of system administration and software testing, and what requires more conscious effort in configuring the environment and verifying the application?
- How effective are your current deployment methods in successfully installing and configuring the application?
- How effective are your validation efforts in confirming the application’s functionality post-deployment?
- What challenges are you encountering during the deployment process (e.g., configuration issues, dependency conflicts) or during validation (e.g., identifying environment-specific bugs)?
- What can you learn about the practical aspects of software deployment and the importance of thorough validation in different environments as you are actively performing these tasks?
- How does this activity connect to your understanding of infrastructure, system integration, and software quality assurance?
- Are there alternative deployment strategies or technologies you could have considered?
- How are you adapting your validation plan based on the outcome of the deployment?
- What support or resources (e.g., deployment guides, system logs) might you need in this moment to troubleshoot any issues or refine your validation process? Are you ensuring your deployment and validation procedures align with best practices for software release management and system stability?
On action
- Describe the application you deployed and the technology you used for deployment. Summarise the steps involved in the deployment process. Note how you validated that the deployed application was working correctly in the target environment.
- What are the key considerations when deploying a software application? How does the choice of deployment technology impact the process and the application’s performance? What methods can be used to validate that a deployed application is functioning as expected? What challenges can arise during deployment, and how can they be addressed?
- What deployment technologies would you like to gain more experience with? How will you plan and execute application deployments in future projects? What strategies will you use to ensure thorough validation after deployment?
Beyond action
- Have you reflected on the deployment process and the validation steps you took? How does your understanding of application deployment technologies and validation in a live environment compare now?
- How has this activity enhanced your understanding of the practical considerations involved in making software available to users? Has it influenced your approach to planning and executing deployments?
- What transferable skills, such as problem-solving, technical understanding, and attention to detail, did you develop? What clear actions can you take to further develop your skills in application deployment technologies and validation methodologies?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 4 |
Outcome
Use good software design and programming practice. |
| # 5 |
Outcome
Use programming languages. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Develop a protocol for testing a piece of software. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Deploy applications, including the use of containerisation. |