We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Does a Software Configuration Manager Do?

By M. Kayo
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 11,551
Share

A software configuration manager, sometimes also simply known as an SCM, is a computer science professional who oversees the lifecycle of a specific software product, usually for a software firm or manufacturing company. Managers are often assigned to multiple projects at once, and their jobs can include everything from initial coding and project conception to final developments and amalgamation. This person isn’t typically responsible for things like sales and marketing — these tasks usually belong to other divisions — but pretty much everything about how the program is designed and created falls under the manager’s powers. His or her main functions include development, testing, and quality assurance; personnel issues, including supervision and delegation of authority, are also usually involved. Most of the people who have this sort of job work for major software development companies, and it’s common for them to have university degrees in computer engineering, information technology, and coding.

Basic Duties and Job Description

The day-to-day tasks of any SCM necessarily vary based on the scope of the job as well as the dynamics of the overarching company. In its most universal sense, though, the core duties involve providing and administering the processes used to manage and control change throughout the entire life cycle of a software product. In almost all cases, the SCM makes sure software remains reliable and reproducible throughout the entire development process in the event changes or revisions are made.

Actually executing this isn’t always easy, and can involve a number of different moving pieces. Most managers work with several development teams, and make sure that everyone is working within specific development guidelines. To ensure the integrity of a software product, managers typically produce what’s known as a "software build" to be initiated in the project's early stages. This build is commonly repeated many times throughout the entire development process.

Baseline Source Code

One of the most important things that a software configuration manager does at the development stage is to make sure that all changes made in the development of a software product are managed, tested, documented, and stored according to certain standards throughout all stages of development. When a programmer creates a program, an initial baseline source code is written which contains all the commands necessary to make a program work. As the program is developed, certain changes or revisions are made in the source code to improve or add to the software's functions. If another programmer also makes changes, or if data is corrupted for some reason, then the initial source code may be altered or even lost if not saved.

Understanding the Software Development Process

A software configuration manager needs to ensure all these different source codes actually function together to make the software perform as it was designed. To do this, the manger will create a fully automated daily software build, a process which combines all the different steps needed to compile the source code into artifacts, or files. These files must be able to pass through several tests to make sure they are properly integrated with all other components of the software. This build process ensures the software will function properly when all components are combined to make the final version.

File Compilation

A software configuration manager typically also needs to ensure that all these different source codes actually function together to make the program work the way it’s supposed to. To do this, the manger will create a fully automated daily software build, a process which combines all the different steps needed to compile the source code into artifacts, or files. These files must be able to pass through several tests to make sure they are properly integrated with all other components of the software. This build process ensures the software will function properly when all components are combined to make the final version.

Getting Started in the Profession

Managers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, but it’s not uncommon for formal education to be simply one of many progressively more intensive requirements. It’s usually the case that management positions require a lot of hands-on experience working on software development teams and interacting as members of information technology divisions. The most successful professionals in the field tend to have many years experience in creating software builds and managing baseline standards for various programs.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-does-a-software-configuration-manager-do.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.