Releaseproperty

Releaseproperty is a term used in software configuration and release management to describe metadata attributes attached to a software artifact that indicate its release status and characteristics. The concept is not tied to a single standard; in practice, release properties are data fields that accompany a build or package through the delivery pipeline.

Typical release properties include version, releaseNotes, releaseDate, environment (for example, development, staging, production), channel (stable, beta), platform or architecture, and ownership or compliance tags. They may also cover security or license status and links to related artifacts such as source code snapshots or test results. Together, these fields support traceability, reproducibility, and governance by making it clear which artifact is intended for a given deployment.

In many systems, release properties are defined in configuration files or exposed as environment variables within CI/CD pipelines. They are used by build tools, package managers, and deployment orchestrators to select the correct artifact, enforce deployment policies, and promote artifacts through environments. Examples of contexts where release properties matter include versioning workflows (for example, distinguishing release versions from snapshots), packaging metadata, and release gates that require passing tests or security checks before a release is approved.

Challenges with release properties can arise from multiple release streams, drift between environments, and ensuring properties remain synchronized with the artifacts they describe. Proper management of release properties supports auditability, rollback capabilities, and consistent production releases.

See also: versioning, release management, CI/CD, build metadata.