Managing application template artifacts in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for managing application template artifacts throughout an application's lifecycle in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). In a typical embodiment, a workload template is assigned to each phase of a set of successive phases of the application's lifecycle. Each template typically refers to a template in a preceding phase of the lifecycle. Moreover, the templates may contain pointers to artifacts used in the phases assigned thereto. Any changes occurring in the artifacts/phases are propagated to the corresponding templates so as to automatically manage application lifecycle operations.
1. A computer-implemented method for managing application template artifacts in a networked computing environment, comprising:
assigning a set of templates to a set of successive phases, each of the set of templates being assigned to a single one of the set of successive phases, the set of successive phases corresponding to a lifecycle of an application, and the set of templates being stored in a computer storage device;
providing a reference in at least one template of the set of templates assigned to a particular phase, the reference referring to at least one previous template of the set of templates, and the at least one previous template being assigned to a previous phase in the set of successive phases;
providing a set of pointers in the set of templates, the set of pointers referring to a set of artifacts used in the set of successive phases;
identifying a set of changes to the set of artifacts, the set of changes occurring between individual phases of the set of successive phases; and
propagating the set of changes to the at least one previous template of the set of templates via the reference.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the particular phase immediately following the previous phase in the set of successive phases.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the set of artifacts comprising at least one of the following: application requirements, application tasks, application source codes, application test cases, application defects, application builds, or application compliance requirements.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the set of phases comprising at least one of the following a requirement phase, a design phase, a development phase, a test phase, or a production phase.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the propagating comprising generating a subsequent version of each of the set of templates to which the set of changes apply.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a notification corresponding to at least one of the set of changes.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.
8. A system for managing application template artifacts in a networked computing environment, comprising:
a memory medium comprising instructions;
a bus coupled to the memory medium; and
a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to:
assign a set of templates to a set of successive phases, each of the set of templates being assigned to a single one of the set of successive phases, the set of successive phases corresponding to a lifecycle of an application, and the set of templates being stored in a computer storage device;
provide a reference in at least one template of the set of templates assigned to a particular phase, the reference referring to at least one previous template of the set of templates, and the at least one previous template being assigned to a previous phase in the set of successive phases;
provide a set of pointers in the set of templates, the set of pointers referring to a set of artifacts used in the set of successive phases;
identify a set of changes to the set of artifacts, the set of changes occurring between individual phases of the set of successive phases; and
propagate the set of changes to the at least one previous template of the set of templates via the reference.
9. The system of claim 8 , the particular phase immediately following the previous phase in the set of successive phases.
10. The system of claim 8 , the set of artifacts comprising at least one of the following: application requirements, application tasks, application source codes, application test cases, application defects, application builds, or application compliance requirements.
11. The system of claim 8 , the set of phases comprising at least one of the following: a requirement phase, a design phase, a development phase, a test phase, or a production phase.
12. The system of claim 8 , the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to generate a subsequent version of each of the set of templates to which the set of changes apply.
13. The system of claim 8 , the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to generate a notification corresponding to at least one of the set of changes.
14. The system of claim 8 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.
15. A computer program product for managing application template artifacts in a networked computing environment, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage memory, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage memory, to:
assign a set of templates to a set of successive phases, each of the set of templates being assigned to a single one of the set of successive phases, the set of successive phases corresponding to a lifecycle of an application, and the set of templates being stored in a computer storage device;
provide a reference in at least one template of the set of templates assigned to a particular phase, the reference referring to at least one previous template of the set of templates, and the at least one previous template being assigned to a previous phase in the set of successive phases;
provide a set of pointers in the set of templates, the set of pointers referring to a set of artifacts used in the set of successive phases;
identify a set of changes to the set of artifacts, the set of changes occurring between individual phases of the set of successive phases; and
propagate the set of changes to the at least one previous template of the set of templates via the reference.
16. The computer program product claim 15 , the particular phase immediately following the previous phase in the set of successive phases.
17. The computer program product claim 15 , the set of artifacts comprising at least one of the following: application requirements, application tasks, application source codes, application test cases, application defects, application builds, or application compliance requirements.
18. The computer program product claim 15 , the set of phases comprising at least one of the following: a requirement phase, a design phase, a development phase, a test phase, or a production phase.
19. The computer program product claim 15 , the computer readable storage media further comprising instructions to generate a subsequent version of each of the set of templates to which the set of changes apply.
20. The computer program product claim 15 , the computer readable storage media further comprising instructions to generate a notification corresponding to at least one of the set of changes.
21. The computer program product claim 15 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.
22. A computer-implemented method for deploying a system for managing application template artifacts in a networked computing environment, comprising:
providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:
assign a set of templates to a set of successive phases, each of the set of templates being assigned to a single one of the set of successive phases, the set of successive phases corresponding to a lifecycle of an application, and the set of templates being stored in a computer storage device;
provide a reference in at least one template of the set of templates assigned to a particular phase, the reference referring to at least one previous template of the set of templates, and the at least one previous template being assigned to a previous phase in the set of successive phases;
provide a set of pointers in the set of templates, the set of pointers referring to a set of artifacts used in the set of successive phases;
identify a set of changes to the set of artifacts, the set of changes occurring between individual phases of the set of successive phases; and
propagate the set of changes to the at least one previous template of the set of templates via the reference.