The four environments
The four commonly used environments in software development are:
- Development
- Testing
- Staging
- Production
The first stage, development, is the very first workspace for developers to begin work on a task. It is where they will programme, code, write, and lay down real work. The development stage is a sort of locked arena, in which any work that is done by developers does not affect anything else further than the development line. The environment often includes “local” versions of code, i.e. one that is being worked on by only one person or team and can only be seen by them.
The development environment allows software developers to create the work they need without releasing it to users and causing any knock-on bugs and failures. It is a controlled setting for development that allows maximum productivity and effectiveness without any complications.
The second stage, testing, does what it says on the tin. The test environment allows testing to take place. Anything that has been developed so far can be thoroughly tested to improve the quality and accuracy of the software and to fix any bugs that are occurring. Different types of testing can be carried out here, including performance testing, system integration testing, security testing, QA, user acceptance testing, and so on. Whatever makes sure the software is ready to move into staging and fits in with the current software development company’s methodology will do the job.
