SoftwareBaselines

Software baselines are formally reviewed and approved reference points in software configuration management. They designate a defined set of software items and related documents that are considered complete and stable at a specific moment, and they serve as the basis for future development, measurement, and auditing. Baselines help establish accountability, traceability, and a controlled path for change management.

Common types of baselines include:

- Functional baseline: includes approved requirements and design definitions that establish the intended behavior of the system.

- Product baseline: the released and delivered version of the software and its accompanying documentation.

- Engineering baseline: internal artifacts such as code, build scripts, test plans, and development environments that are baselined for internal use and evolution.

Baselines are created after formal reviews and verification activities and are authorized by a configuration control authority, such as a configuration control board. Items selected for a baseline are labeled with version identifiers and stored in a configuration management system. Changes to baselined items are controlled through formal change requests, and new baselines are issued for subsequent releases or major milestones. Baselines provide a stable reference for testing, validation, customer handoff, and regulatory or contractual compliance.

In practice, baselines are often realized as tagged snapshots in version control combined with formal documentation and approval records. They are distinct from ongoing development, which continues to produce new baselines as the project progresses. Limitations include potential drift if baselines are not maintained and the overhead of governance; effective baselining requires clear policies, proper documentation, and disciplined change control.