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    Release Dependency Graph

    Acceleration
    Phase: release
    DF
    LT

    Quick Reference

    Phase
    release
    Epic
    Advanced Release Coordination
    Milestone
    Acceleration
    Target
    >= 80% services have documented dependencies
    Implementation Time
    Part of Advanced Release Coordination epic: 3.5 weeks (23 hours per capability avg)

    What & Why

    Definition

    Automated dependency graph tracking service-to-service version requirements for >= 80% of microservices

    Business Value

    Reduces rollback time from 2 hours to 5 minutes and enables progressive rollouts reaching 50% of users in 2 hours vs 2 days through feature flags Achieving >= 80% services have documented dependencies is a key milestone toward this goal.

    Context

    This capability is part of the Acceleration milestone's focus on scale automation, embed compliance, improve speed & reliability. Essential for teams targeting DF, LT improvements.

    Success Criteria

    Target

    >= 80% services have documented dependencies

    Measurement

    Dependency graph coverage analysis

    Evidence

    • Dependency manifests (package.json, pom.xml, go.mod)
    • Service mesh metadata
    • API version matrices

    In Practice

    Real-World Implementation

    Teams declare dependencies in service manifest. Automated checks block deployment if dependency versions incompatible. Graph visualized in release dashboard.

    Concrete Example

    payments-api v2.1 declares: auth-service >= v1.8.0, postgres >= v13, redis >= v6. Pre-deploy check fails if auth-service v1.7 deployed to target environment.

    Implementation Guide

    Prerequisites

    Release Cadence Coordination
    >= 70% multi-service releases use coordinated cadence

    Implementation Steps

    Follow the measurement approach: Dependency graph coverage analysis

    For detailed step-by-step guidance, refer to the Advanced Release Coordination Implementation Kit.

    Resources

    Implementation Kit

    Advanced Release Coordination Kit

    Templates

    Browse all templates

    Related Resources

    View learning paths

    Related Capabilities

    Prerequisites

    Implement these first

    Release Cadence Coordination

    Enables

    What this unlocks

    Release Risk Scoring Model
    Release Coordination Automation

    Complementary

    Often adopted together, from the Advanced Release Coordination epic

    Feature Flag Governance
    Release Health Dashboard
    Release Rollback Testing
    Release Metrics Analytics

    Troubleshooting & FAQs

    Common Issues

    Issue: Target metric not improving

    Solution: Verify measurement is accurate, check if prerequisites are fully implemented, review evidence artifacts for completeness

    Issue: Team resistance to adoption

    Solution: Start with pilot team, demonstrate value with metrics, provide training and support during transition

    Issue: Inconsistent implementation across teams

    Solution: Create shared templates and guidelines, establish regular sync meetings, use automation to enforce standards

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can we implement this before completing prerequisites?

    While possible, it's not recommended. Prerequisites ensure foundational practices are in place, making this capability more effective and easier to adopt.

    How long does implementation typically take?

    Most capabilities can be implemented within 90 days when tackled as part of the Acceleration milestone. Individual timelines vary based on team size and existing practices.

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