Method for enforcing change policy based on project state

• US 8,645,906 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opshub, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Opshub, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Sandeep, Knight, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Xi D
• Application Number:
  US11/852,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,339 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A set of tools and other mechanisms automatically enforce software development change policies by providing a way to map physical source control system codelines to projects and by providing a way to maintain current project and codeline state information. The set of tools and other mechanisms also provide ways to define change management rules and policies, as well as, ways to evaluate and allow or deny each proposed change against the defined change policy.

Claims

1. A method for enforcing change policies in a software development environment comprises:

receiving at a source control system a request to make a change to a project;

defining a change management role and a policy to evaluate and allow or deny the change based on the defined change management rule and policy automatically and wherein the change management policy consists of a specified type of change that is being requested, a set of variables about the proposed change and a set of actions that is to be taken for each type of change and wherein the change management rule is defined based on the specified type of change, the set of variables and the set of actions, and wherein the specified type of change and the set of variables are captured from an user input or from a policy, user and group database, and wherein the change management policy is enforced automatically by mapping a physical source control system codelines to the project and by maintaining a state of the project with a user or group assigned to the project, and wherein the change management policy includes defining types of changes for triggering a rule, and wherein a release condition to which a particular project belongs is determined from a release management system, and a current state for a codeline is checked from a code review system to invoke an appropriate set of policies to accept or reject changes, when a change is submitted;

before making said changes, retrieving user information associated with a user requesting said changes, and determining a type of the requested change, and wherein said requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change, and wherein the first type of change and the second type of change are different types of changes from a set consisting of a codeline merge in the project, a codeline branch in the project, an addition of one or more features to a set of features that are specified in a data associated with the project, a downgrading or a deferral of one or more bugs in the project and a closing of bugs;

wherein, according to one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed to make the first type of change, and a second user is allowed to make the second type of change but not the first type of change;

based at least in part on the user information and the type of the requested change, evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change; and

in response to evaluating the one or more policy rules, storing said requested change in the source control system when the user is allowed to make the requested change and rejecting said requested change when the user is not allowed to make the requested change; and

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices;

determining that the first requested change is to a first codeline within the project, when the requested change is a first requested change and a second requested change to a second codeline not within the project is also received, in the request, with the first requested change;

determining a first state of the first codeline and a second state of the second codeline, and wherein according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make changes to codelines in the first state but not to code lines codelines in the second state, wherein the second state is different than the first state;

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the first requested change is further based at least in part on the first state of the first codeline and

determining if the user is allowed to make the second requested change based at least in part on the second state of the second codeline.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises

determining a state for said project, and wherein according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make the requested change when said project has a first state, and the user is not allowed to make the requested change when said project has a second state, and wherein the second state is different than the first state, and wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change is further based at least in part on the state for said project.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, upon receiving the request, the project is in a first state, the method further comprising:

accessing a stored mapping between states and policy rules, wherein the stored mapping maps the first state to a first set of one or more policy rules and a second state to a second set of one or more policy rules, wherein the second set is different from the first set;

wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a particular change to the project when the project is in the first state;

wherein, according to the second set of one or more policy rules, the user is not allowed to make the particular change to the project when the project is in the second state;

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change includes evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules;

receiving input that indicates the project is entering the second state, and, in response, automatically;

causing the current state of the project to transition from the first state to the second state; and

causing the policy rules that are evaluated to transition from the first set of policy rules to the second set of policy rules.

3. The method of claim wherein said project is a first project and wherein the requested change is a first requested change, further comprising:

maintaining a mapping between said first project and a first codeline of said first project, and between a second project and a second codeine of said second project;

determining that the first requested change includes a first change to the first codeline of the first project, wherein a second requested change to a second codeline of the second project is received, in the request, with the first requested change;

in response to the request, mapping the first codeline to said first project and the second codeline to said second project; and

determining a first state for said first project and a second state for said second project;

wherein, according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make changes to projects in the first state but not to projects in the second state, wherein the first state is different than the second state;

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the first requested change is further based at least in part on the first state for said first project; and

determining if the user is allowed to make the second requested change based at least in part on the second state of the second project.

5. A method comprising:

receiving at a source control system, a request to make a requested change to a project that is currently in a first state;

before making said change;

retrieving user information associated with a user requesting said requested change;

accessing a stored mapping between states and policy rules, wherein the stored mapping maps the first state to a first set of one or more policy rules and a second state to a second set of one or more policy rules,

wherein the second set is different from the first set;

wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a particular change to the project when the project is in the first state;

wherein, according to the second set of one or more policy rules, the user is not allowed to make the particular change to the project when the project is in the second state;

based at least in part on the user information and the current state of the project, evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change; and

in response to evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules;

if the user is allowed to make the requested change, storing said requested change in the source control system, and if the user is not allowed to make the requested change, rejecting said requested change;

receiving input that indicates the project is entering the second state, and, in response, automatically;

causing the current state of the project to transition from the first state to the second state; and

causing the policy rules that are evaluated to transition from the first set of policy to the second set of policy rules;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices, maintaining a stored mapping between the first project and a first codeline, and between a second project and a second codeline when the project is a first project, and wherein the request requests a first change to the first codeline and a second change to the second codeline;

in response to the request, mapping the first codeline to said first project and the second codeline to the second project, and wherein the second project is in the second state when the first project is in the first state;

evaluating the second set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the second change;

wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed to make one or more changes, and a second user is not allowed to make the one or more changes;

determining whether the user is the first user or the second user; and

wherein evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change is further based at least in part on whether the user is the, first user or the second user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed to make a first type change and a second user is allowed to make a second type of change but not the first type of change;

the method further comprising;

determining a type for each of the requested changes of the requested change, wherein the requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change, wherein the first type of change an change second type of change are different types of change;

wherein evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the requested change is allowed is further based at least in part on the type of the requested change and the user requesting the requested change.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a first type of change but not a second type of change;

the method further comprising;

determining a type of the requested change, wherein the requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change wherein the first type of change and the second type of change are different types of changes from a set of consisting of;

a codeline merge in the project, a codeline branch in the project, an addition of one or more features to a set of features that are specified in data associated with the project, and a deferral of one or more bugs in the project;

wherein evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the requested change is allowed is further based at least in part on the type of the requested change.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the requested change is a change to a codeline, the method further comprising accessing a stored mapping to determine that the codeline belongs to the project.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for enforcing change policies in a software development:

environment, the instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to performs the steps of;

receiving at a source control system a request to make a change to a project;

defining a change management rule and a policy to evaluate and allow or deny the change based on the defined change management rule and policy automatically and wherein the change;

management policy consists of a specified type of change that is being requested, a set of variables about the proposed change and a set of actions that is to be taken for each type of change and wherein the change management rule is defined based on the specified type of change, the set of variables and the set of actions and wherein the specified type of change and the set of variables are captured directly from the source control system or wherein, the;

specified type of change and the set of variables are captured from an user input or from a policy, user and group database and wherein change management policy is enforced automatically by mapping physical source control system codelines to projects and by maintaining a state of the project with a user or group assigned to the project and wherein the change management policy includes defining types of changes for triggering a rule;

before making said change, retrieving user information associated with;

a user requesting said change, and determining a type of the requested change, and wherein said requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change, and wherein the first type of change and the second type of change are different types of changes from a;

set consisting of a codeline merge in the project, a codeline branch in the project, an addition of one or more features to a set of features that am sped tied in data associated with the project a downgrading or a deferral of one or more bugs in the project and a closing of bugs;

wherein, according to the one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed to make the first type of change, and a second user is allowed to make the second type of change but not the first type of change;

based at least in part on the user information and the type of the requested change, evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change; and

in response to evaluating the one or more policy rules;

if the user is allowed to make the requested change, storing said change in the source control system, and

if the user is not allowed to make the requested change, rejecting said requested change;

wherein the requested change is a first requested change, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform;

determining that the first requested change is to a first codeline within the project, and wherein a second requested change to a second codeline not within the project is received, in the request, with the first requested change;

determining a first state of the first codeline and a second state of the second codeline;

wherein, according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make changes to codelines in the first state but not to codelines in the second state, wherein the second state is different than the first state;

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the first requested change is further based at least in part on the first state of the first codeline; and

determining if the user is allowed to make the second requested change based at least in part on the second state of the second codeline.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform:

determining a state for said project;

wherein, according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make the requested change when said project;

has a first state, and the user is not allowed to make the requested change when said project has a second state, wherein the second state is different than the first state; and

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change is further based at least in part on the state for said project.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said project is a first project and wherein the requested change is a first requested change, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform:

maintaining a mapping between said first project and a first codeline of said first project, and between a second project and a second codeline of said second project;

determining that the first requested change includes a first change to the first codeline of the first project, wherein a second requested change to a second codeline of the second project is received, in the request, with the first requested change;

in response to the request, mapping the first codeline to said first project and the second codeline to said second project; and

determining a first state for said project and a second state for said second project;

wherein, according to the one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make changes to projects in the first state but not to projects in the second state, wherein the first state is different than the second state;

wherein evaluating the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the first requested change is further based at least in part on the first state for said first project; and

determining if the user is allowed to make the second requested change based at least in part on the second state of the second project.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein, upon receiving the request, the project is in a first state, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform:

accessing a stored mapping between states and policy rules, wherein the stored mapping maps the first state to a first set of one or more policy rules and a second state to a second set of one of more policy rules,

wherein the second set is different from the first set;

wherein, according to the first set;

of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a particular change to the project when the project is in the first state;

wherein, according to the second set of one or more policy rules, the user is not allowed to make the particular change to the project when the project is in the second state;

wherein evaluating, the one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change includes evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules;

receiving input that indicates the project is entering the second state, and, in response, automatically;

causing the current state of the project to transition from the first state to The second state; and

causing the policy rules that are evaluated to transition from the first set of policy rules to the second set of policy rules.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of receiving, at a source control system, a request to make a requested change to a project that is currently in a first state;

before making said change;

retrieving user information associated with a user requesting said requested change;

accessing a stored mapping between states and policy rules, wherein the stored mapping maps the first state to a first set of one or more policy rules and a second state to a second set of one or more policy rules,

wherein the second set is different from the first set;

wherein according to the first set of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a particular change to the project when the project is in the first state;

wherein, according to the second set of one or more policy rules, the user is not allowed to make the particular change to the project when the project is in the second state;

based at least in part on the user information and the current state of the project, evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change; and

in response to evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules;

if the user is allowed to make the requested change, storing said requested change in the source control system, and

if the user is not allowed to make the requested change, rejecting said requested change;

receiving input that indicates the project is entering the second state, and, in response, automatically;

causing the current state of the project to transition from the first state to the second state; and

causing the policy rules that are evaluated to transition from the first set of policy to the second set of policy rules;

wherein the project is a first project, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform;

maintaining a stored mapping between the first project and a first codeline, and between a second project and a second codeline;

wherein the request requests a first change to the first codeline and a second change to the second codeline;

in response to the request, mapping the first codeline to said first project and the second codeline to the second project;

wherein the second project is in the second state when the first project is in the first state;

evaluating the second set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the second change.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed, to make one or more changes, and a second user is not allowed to make the one or more changes;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform;

determining whether the user is the first user or second user;

wherein evaluating the first;

set of one or more policy rules to determine if the user is allowed to make the requested change is finisher based at least in part on whether the user is the first user or the second user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, a first user is allowed to make a first type of change, and a second user is allowed to make a second type of change but not the first type of change;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform;

determining a type of the requested change, wherein the requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change, wherein the first type of change and the second type of change are different types of changes;

wherein evaluating the first set of one or more policy rules to determine if the requested change is allowed is further based at least in part on the type of the requested change and the user requesting the requested change.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein, according to the first set of one or more policy rules, the user is allowed to make a first type of change but not a second type of change;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform;

determining a type of the requested changes wherein the requested change is a first type of change or a second type of change, wherein the first type of change and the second type of change are different types of changes from a set consisting of;

a codeline merge in the project, a code line branch in the project, an ad it on of one or more features to a set of features that are specified in data associated with the project, and a deferral of one or more bugs in the project;

wherein evaluating the first set;

of one or more policy rules to determine if the requested change is allowed is further based at least in part on the type of the requested change.