Canary releases and canary changes are: terms used in software development to describe a deployment strategy that involves gradually rolling out updates or changes to a small subset of users or systems before making them available to everyone. Here's an explanation in non-technical terms. Imagine you have a new version of a software application or a change to an existing feature that you want to release to your users. Instead of releasing it to all users at once, you start by introducing it to a small group of users or a limited part of the system. This small group, or a subset of users, is like a canary bird in a coal mine that acts as an early warning system. If any issues or problems arise, they serve as indicators, just like the canary would indicate the presence of harmful gases in the mine.
Developers select a subset of users or systems that represent a small portion of the overall user base or infrastructure. These users or systems serve as the “canary group.”
The changes, such as new features or code updates, are deployed to the canary group while keeping the rest of the system unchanged.
The canary group's experience is closely monitored, collecting metrics, logs, and user feedback. This helps identify any issues, performance problems, or negative user experiences caused by the changes.
The collected data is analyzed to assess the impact of the changes. If any issues or concerns arise, developers can make adjustments, bug fixes, or optimizations before proceeding with a wider deployment.
After successful validation with the canary group, the changes can be gradually rolled out to additional users or systems, ensuring a smoother transition.