Aspenware Release and Update Processes and Timelines

Development and Release Schedules Overview

Aspenware offers continual upgrades to its products, including new features to enhance both the guest and resort experience, and to fix defects in the software. These upgrades are made available to resorts for all Aspenware products in releases. Aspenware offers two types of releases, including major, and emergency releases. Details on each type of release and opportunity windows are outlined below.

  • Major Releases These typically occur on a 4-week cycle.

  • Hotfix Releases Hotfix releases are created only for issues that meet the P1 definition as outlined in the Aspenware Support Guidelines.

  • Beta Weeks In the two weeks prior to a release being production-ready, resorts are given the opportunity to beta test the release. Communication about release readiness for beta testing will be sent to resorts via email. Guidelines on beta participation and expectations are outlined in the Major Beta Release section below.

  • Upgrade Windows These are 3 or 4-week windows when the release version is available for production deployment. Communication about release readiness for production deployment will be sent to resorts via email.

Major Release Process/Typical Timeline

Aspenware schedules a major release for its Commerce, Identity, and Unity products 12 times per year. These major releases are typically published every 4 weeks. This schedule varies from time to time, subject to resource capacity for both Aspenware and our resorts, especially during holiday periods. Generally, major releases are focused on delivering new features and functionality, although a few high-priority bug fixes may also be included in a major release.

Resorts have the opportunity to volunteer to participate in a 2-week beta program. Guidelines on beta participation and expectations are outlined in the Major Beta Release section below.

Major releases will increment the release number after the decimal. For example, if the prior major release was 2.15, the next major release will be 2.16.

In some cases, typically when a substantial change is included in a major release, the entire version may increment, e.g., from 3.2 to 4.0.

Timeframe

Tasks

Outcomes

Timeframe

Tasks

Outcomes

Weeks 1-4

  • Research and business analysis

  • Development of new features

  • Internal testing of new features

  • Code completed for release

  • Functional testing completed

  • Release branch is created and deployed to Aspenware test environments

  • Integration testing completed

  • Beta release is created and ready to be scheduled for beta test sites

  • Release notes and release guides are drafted

  • Communication about beta testing availability is sent to customers

Week 5-6

(Beta Test)

  • Participating resorts conduct beta testing and provide feedback on any issue that arise

  • Any issues that arise from beta testing are prioritized and/or remediated*

  • Release notes and guides are finalized

  • Production release is created and ready to be scheduled for site deployment

  • Communication about release availability is sent to customers and they schedule a deployment

Week 7

  • Release is deployed at resort sites that have scheduled it

  • Release is in production in customer environments

*Any reported issues that are too large or too risky will be deferred to a future release and documented in Known Issues in the release notes.

Hotfix Release Process/Typical Timeline

In the event of a Level 1 emergency (P1), Aspenware will make every effort to resolve the issue within 1 day within commercially reasonable efforts. Often, P1s can be resolved without a release.

If a release is required to address a P1 issue, Aspenware will create a hotfix release. These hotfix releases are developed, tested, and published within 2 business days whenever feasible. Hotfix releases will increment the release number with .1 after the major release version, e.g., if the prior major release was 2.15, the hotfix release will be 2.15.1. Where .1 indicates a hotfix release to 2.15.

IMPORTANT: Emergency releases are used only for issues that meet the P1 definition as outlined in Aspenware Service Explained.

NOTE: If the hotfix is a global fix, there will be hotfix-specific release notes. If it pertains to one resort, there will not be release notes, however the release version will still increment.

Overall Installation/Update Process

The installation/upgrade process varies slightly depending on whether you are taking a scheduled or unscheduled release (emergency release). Aspenware adheres to formalized processes whenever upgrading and installing production code.

The following sections outline the processes that will be followed by Aspenware for scheduled and unscheduled production releases. In order to ensure that Aspenware has the ability to reach out to resort contacts in the case of emergencies and for code upgrades, we do ask that each resort provide Aspenware with the following contact information.

Role

Name

Email

Work Phone

Cell Phone

(only for emergencies)

Primary Contact

 

 

 

 

Secondary Contact

 

 

 

 

Accounting Contact (access to payment gateway)

 

 

 

 

IT Contact

 

 

 

 

These defined contacts are designated as release decision-makers and stakeholders. Permission to turn sites from maintenance mode to live mode following a deployment must be granted by one of these contacts, otherwise, the site will remain under construction until permission has been granted. 

Scheduled Update Process

For scheduled releases, the following process will be used for Aspenware to certify that a release is completed. The steps in blue are the responsibility of the resort.

Release Pre-work

Timing: 3 - 7 Days before the scheduled release

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

Notice of new release along with release notes and configuration guides for production-impacting changes are sent out giving resorts the opportunity to take the version.

 

X

 

Resort use the Aspenware Ticket Portal to request the upgrade. See Login - Aspenware Customer Hub

 

X

Aspenware deploys the version to the resort test site, smoke tests it internally, and then sends the smoke test checklist to be completed by the resort.

 

X

 

Resort completes the smoke test checklist and feels comfortable with the release, and then contact their Aspenware Representative, thereby signing off on the release. Production upgrades need five business days notice from signoff of the test environment.

 

 

X

Aspenware works with resort to schedule the release.

X

 

Resort representatives will select an available release date provided by Aspenware. Resort representatives will provide a list of contacts that need to be included with the upgrade. Aspenware requires inclusion of a resort contact that can review test transactions in the payment gateway portal and the resort POS (RTP or Siriusware).

 

 

X

During this scheduled time, all invited resort representatives, especially the primary contact and accounting representative, are available to answer emails and complete checks requested of them quickly. If they are not available, it is their responsibility to notify Aspenware of their absence so a new time can be scheduled, or a backup can be found.

 

 

 

X

If the release requires configuration updates in Aspenware Commerce or Unity between the time of the release of the code and the re-enablement of the site, Aspenware will work with the representatives (defined above) to train the contacts on the required configuration and to compile a complete go-live configuration checklist to be completed by Aspenware, and/or some tasks by the resort main contact during the downtime. These configurations will be done from the staging environment by Aspenware and/or the representatives (defined above).

 

 

 

X

 

 

Day-of-Release Activities

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

If deemed necessary by Aspenware, about 1 hr before the scheduled release, Aspenware will take a backup of the current site’s database. Depending on the size of the shop’s database, this may take between 10 min to 2 hrs.

Note: Any orders placed between the time the backup is started and the site is taken down with the maintenance page will not be included in the restored site if for any reason, the deployment is aborted and the backup DB needs to be restored to production.

If the backup takes longer than expected, or if another factor is delaying the deployment of code, Aspenware will email the group of representatives (defined above) to re-assess and plan a different time.

X

 

If a release requires downtime the site is taken offline. When the site is taken down, a maintenance page will be displayed for the entirety of the release. Aspenware will email all representatives (defined above) to confirm that the deployment is starting and the site will be taken down.

X

 

When the site is down, the new code will be deployed to a staging slot. Once the code deployment is complete to the staging slot, the developer doing the deployment provides a URL to the staging page to the responsible Aspenware Representative. It is the Aspenware Representative’s responsibility to check the site.

X

 

When the staging URL is ready, the Aspenware Representative will step through the go-live certification checklists (see below). Every step on these checklists must be completed before confirming that the production site can be re-deployed and the maintenance page may be removed. The site will not be turned from maintenance mode to live mode unless every step is completed in the checklists successfully, or unless the representatives (defined above) give explicit instructions to turn the site back on despite checks not being completed.

X

 

The Aspenware representative will then complete the upgrade checklist that is unique to the code being deployed and is made the prior week by the Client Services Manager and Release Manager.

X

 

If any of these checks are not able to be completed in a timely manner, especially the accounting check task above, Aspenware will follow up with the primary contact (defined above) to have them follow up with the required parties.

  • If any of these checks are not able to be completed in a timely manner, especially the accounting check task above and the primary contact is not able to be reached, Aspenware will follow up with the secondary contact (defined above) to have them follow up with required parties.

  • If the uncompleted check can still not be verified after reasonable efforts have been made to reach out, the primary or secondary contact (defined above) only can give permission to Aspenware to flip the site back on despite certain go-live certification checklist items remaining incomplete. The site will not be turned from maintenance mode to live mode unless every step is completed in the checklist successfully, or unless the representative (defined above) gives explicit instructions to turn the site back on despite checks not being completed.

  • If the site is flipped back on without key tasks being completed, within 24 hours following the flip back, Aspenware and the primary contact should attempt to re-contact those responsible for outstanding tasks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

(Joint Responsibility)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

(Joint Responsibility)

Once all tasks are completed, Aspenware will email the group of representatives (defined above) declaring that the site is Certified by Aspenware and complete.

 

X

 

Go-Live Certification Checklist (Resort responsibility in BLUE)

Go-Live Certification Checklist (Resort responsibility in BLUE)

  1. Create a new account and family member and confirm that it loads in the resort’s production POS with expected information (email, alternate id, name, dob, authentication profile)

  2. Checkout with an order using a real credit card

  3. Confirm that the order is in production POS under the correct person and for the correct dollar amount

  4. Email Accounting contact (defined above) to confirm that transaction is in the payment provider for the correct amount.

    1. Aspenware will email the Order ID, order total, name of ordering product, name of cardholder, last 4 of cc, and expiration date.

    2. The accounting representative (defined above), or someone with access to the payment provider at the resort is responsible for quickly checking the transaction and emailing Aspenware to confirm or deny that the transaction made it in. The accounting representative is also responsible for refunding these test production transactions in the payment provider and/or the POS.

    3. If the transaction is successful, the contact should immediately refund the transaction in the POS.

  5. Logout and log back in with an existing credential

  6. Confirm that the email is successfully delivered

  7. Check store settings in admin to confirm that the correct URL is added and the ‘/’ is present after the URL.

  8. Confirm that site is SSL.

  9. Click through products and categories on the store to confirm that everything appears to render correctly.

 

Unscheduled Release Process

For unscheduled emergency releases, such as P1 site outages, which are not planned in advance, the following process will be followed for Aspenware to certify that a release is completed. The steps in blue are the responsibility of the resort.

Day-of-Release Activities

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

Step

Aspenware Responsibility

Resort Responsibility

Aspenware will reach out to the resort to get permission before beginning release activities to fix a P1 issue.

X

 

The resort will grant permission before Aspenware begins.

 

X

If possible and deemed necessary, Aspenware will take a backup of the current site’s commerce database. Depending on the size of the shop’s database, this may take between 10 min to 2 hrs.

  1. Note: Any orders placed between the time the backup is started and the site is taken down with the maintenance page will not be included in the restored site if for some reason, the deployment is aborted and the backup DB needs to be restored.

  2. If the backup takes longer than expected, or if another factor is delaying the deployment, Aspenware will email the group of representatives (defined above) to re-assess and plan a later or different time.

X

 

If a release requires downtime, once the backup is taken, the site will be taken offline. When the site is taken down, the maintenance page will be displayed for the entirety of the release. Aspenware will email all representatives (defined above) to confirm that the deployment is starting and the site will be taken down.

X

 

When the site is down, the new code will be deployed to a staging slot. Once the code deployment is complete to the staging slot, the developer doing the deployment provides a URL to the staging page to the responsible Aspenware Service Representative.

X

 

When the staging URL is ready, the Aspenware Representative will step through the go-live certification checklist. Every step on this checklist must be completed before confirming that the site can be re-deployed and the maintenance page removed. The site will not be turned from maintenance mode to live mode unless every step is completed in the checklist successfully, or unless the RESORT representative (defined above) gives explicit instructions to turn the site back on despite checks not being completed.

X

 

The checks outlined in the Go-Live Certification Checklist (see above) checks are completed.

X

 

The Aspenware representative will then complete the upgrade checklist that is unique to the code being deployed and is made the prior week by the Client Services Manager and Release Manager.

X

 

If any of these checks are not able to be completed in a timely manner, especially the accounting check task above, Aspenware will follow up with the primary contact (defined above) to have them follow up with the required parties.

  • If any of these checks are not able to be completed in a timely manner, especially the accounting check task above and the primary contact is not able to be reached, Aspenware will follow up with the secondary contact (defined above) to have them follow up with required parties.

X

(Joint responsibility)

X

(Joint responsibiity)

If the uncompleted check can still not be verified after reasonable efforts have been made to reach out, the primary or secondary contacts (defined above) only can give permission to Aspenware to flip the site back on despite certain go-live certification checklist items remaining incomplete. The site will not be turned from maintenance mode to live mode unless every step is completed in the checklist successfully, or unless the resort representative (defined above) gives explicit instructions to turn the site back on despite checks not being completed.

X

 

If the site is flipped back on without key tasks being completed, within 24 hours following the flip back, Aspenware and the primary contact should attempt to re-contact those responsible for outstanding tasks.

X

(Joint Responsibility)

X

(Joint Responsibility)

Once all tasks are completed, Aspenware will email the group of RESORT representatives (defined above) declaring that the site is Certified by Aspenware and complete.

X

 

 

Major Release Beta Participation

Beta testing is the option to take unfinalized code* into your test environment to further test new functionality. During this beta testing window, we are able to resolve any issues prior to creating our final release.

Your Aspenware Representative will contact you to gauge your interest prior to the beta weeks.

*Unfinalized code has been tested by Aspenware, but is not the final release version.

Beta Testing Expectations for Resort Customers

  1. Read all available release notes or release guides specific to the release.

  2. Actively test all product types currently available on your site before the beta testing window closes.

  3. Promptly report any issues that arise with the following information:

    1. Description of the problem.

    2. Detailed steps to recreate the issue, including specific products, quantities, and product dates to use.

    3. Screenshots of errors presented on screens, or the outcome of the error condition (e.g., point of sale order discrepancies).

NOTE: The sooner Aspenware receives an issue found in beta, the more likely all issues will be resolved in a timely manner and the release will not be delayed. Aspenware will address as many high-priority reported issues as possible.

If a show-stopper issue is reported after beta week, it will not be resolved in the current release. However, it could become a candidate for a hotfix release.