What Does a Software Configuration Manager Do?

A software configuration manager (SCM) is a computer science professional who manages the lifecycle of a specific software product, typically for a software firm or manufacturing company. Managers are frequently tasked with multiple projects at the same time, and their responsibilities range from initial coding and project conception to final development and amalgamation. This person isn’t usually in charge of things like sales and marketing — those are usually handled by other divisions — but the manager is in charge of pretty much everything that has to do with how the program is designed and implemented. His or her primary responsibilities include development, testing, and quality assurance, as well as personnel issues such as supervision and delegation of authority. The majority of people in this position work for large software development firms, and they typically have university degrees in computer engineering, information technology, or coding.

Job Description and Basic Responsibilities

The day-to-day tasks of any SCM must vary depending on the scope of the job and the dynamics of the larger organization. However, in the broadest sense, the core responsibilities include providing and administering the processes for managing and controlling change throughout the life cycle of a software product. In almost all cases, the SCM ensures that software is reliable and repeatable throughout the development process, even if changes or revisions are made.

It’s not always easy to do this, and it can involve a lot of different moving parts. Most managers supervise multiple development teams and ensure that everyone follows strict development guidelines. Managers typically produce a “software build” to be initiated in the early stages of a project to ensure the integrity of the software product. Throughout the development process, this build is commonly repeated many times.

Source Code for the Foundation

One of the most important things a software configuration manager does during the development stage is to ensure that all changes made during the development of a software product are managed, tested, documented, and stored in accordance with certain standards at all stages. When a programmer creates a program, he or she creates a baseline source code that contains all of the commands required to make the program work. Certain changes or revisions to the source code are made as the program is developed to improve or add to the software’s functions. If another programmer makes changes, or if data becomes corrupted for any reason, the original source code may be changed or even lost if it is not saved.

The Software Development Process: An Overview

A software configuration manager must ensure that all of these disparate source codes work together to make the software perform as intended. To accomplish this, the manager will set up a fully automated daily software build, which entails combining all of the steps required to compile source code into artifacts (or files). These files must pass a series of tests to ensure that they are properly integrated with all other software components. When all of the components are combined to make the final version, this build process ensures that the software will work properly.

Compilation of files

In most cases, a software configuration manager must also ensure that all of these different source codes work together to make the program work as intended. To accomplish this, the manager will set up a fully automated daily software build, which entails combining all of the steps required to compile source code into artifacts (or files). These files must pass a series of tests to ensure that they are properly integrated with all other software components. When all of the components are combined to make the final version, this build process ensures that the software will work properly.

How to Begin a Career in the Profession

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field is typically required of managers, but it’s not uncommon for formal education to be just one of many progressively more intensive requirements. Management positions typically necessitate a great deal of hands-on experience on software development teams and interacting as members of information technology divisions. The most successful professionals in the field have a lot of experience building software and managing baseline standards for different programs.