Design System Release Checklist

Design system release checklist provides a structured list of tasks to complete before, during, and after publishing releases. Checklists ensure consistent quality by preventing steps from being forgotten. They also help new team members learn the release process.

What Is a Design System Release Checklist

A release checklist is a documented list of steps to follow when releasing design system versions. It covers preparation activities, release execution, and post-release tasks. Following the checklist ensures nothing is missed regardless of who performs the release.

Checklists reduce reliance on individual memory and expertise. Complex release processes involve many steps that are easy to forget under time pressure. Checklists provide systematic verification that everything is complete.

How Design System Release Checklists Work

Release checklists cover three phases: pre-release preparation, release execution, and post-release activities. Each phase contains specific tasks to complete.

Pre-release preparation includes validation and readiness tasks. Verifying tests pass, reviewing changelog content, confirming documentation is updated, and checking version numbers are correct all happen before release.

Release execution covers the actual publishing process. Building packages, publishing to npm, creating git tags, and updating distribution channels are release-time activities.

Post-release activities handle communication and verification. Announcing the release, verifying packages are accessible, monitoring for issues, and updating status dashboards happen after publication.

Checklist maintenance keeps documentation current. As processes change, checklists need updates. Regular review ensures checklists reflect actual practices.

Key Considerations

• Organize checklists by release phase
• Include verification steps, not just action steps
• Keep checklists accessible where releases happen
• Update checklists when processes change
• Consider automation for checklist items where possible

Common Questions

What should be included in a pre-release checklist?

Pre-release checklists ensure readiness before publishing. Key items vary by project but commonly include several categories.

Code readiness items verify the code is release-worthy. All tests pass. Code review is complete. No critical bugs are outstanding. The branch is ready for release.

Documentation readiness items confirm documentation is current. Changelog is updated. API documentation reflects changes. Migration guides are written for breaking changes.

Version readiness items verify version information is correct. Version numbers are bumped appropriately. Peer dependency ranges are updated if needed. Lockfiles are current.

Communication readiness items prepare announcements. Release notes are drafted. Communication channels are identified. Stakeholders are notified of upcoming release.

How should release checklists be maintained?

Checklist maintenance ensures checklists remain useful. Several practices help keep checklists current and effective.

Regular review catches drift. Periodically reviewing checklists against actual release practices reveals items that are outdated, missing, or no longer relevant.

Post-release retrospectives identify improvements. Discussing what went well and what was missed after releases reveals checklist gaps.

Version control tracks changes. Keeping checklists in the repository with the code ensures they are versioned and change history is visible.

Accessibility ensures use. Checklists should be easy to find and use during releases. Linking from release automation or documentation helps.

Automation opportunities emerge from checklists. Items that are purely mechanical can often be automated. Checklists highlight automation candidates.

Summary

Design system release checklists ensure consistent quality through systematic verification of release tasks. Checklists covering pre-release, release, and post-release phases prevent missed steps. Regular maintenance keeps checklists aligned with actual processes and identifies automation opportunities.