20 Deployment Interview Questions and Answers

As a software developer, you will eventually need to deploy your code to a production environment. This process can be daunting, especially if you have never done it before. To help you prepare, we have compiled a list of common deployment questions that you may encounter during an interview. With these questions, you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the deployment process and show that you are confident in your abilities.

Deployment Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Deployment interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What do you understand by the term “deployment”?

Deployment is the process of making a new application or system available for use. This usually involves moving the application or system from a development or test environment to a production environment. Deployment can also refer to the process of setting up an application or system on a new server or in a new environment.

2. Explain deployment strategies.

There are a few different ways that you can deploy your application. One popular method is to use a tool like Capistrano to automate the process. This involves creating a script that will handle all of the steps involved in deploying your application, from copying the files to the server to running any necessary database migrations. Another option is to manually deploy your application by logging into the server and running the necessary commands yourself. This can be more time-consuming, but it can also be helpful to understand what is happening behind the scenes.

3. How would you define a release?

A release is a collection of software that is ready to be deployed to a production environment. A release typically contains multiple software components, each of which has been tested and is ready to be deployed.

4. Can you explain what an application stack is in context of software development?

An application stack is the combination of software products that are used to create a complete application. This can include the operating system, the web server, the database, the programming language, and the frameworks.

5. What are some best practices to follow during code deployments?

There are a few best practices to follow during code deployments:
– Make sure to test your code thoroughly before deploying to a production environment.
– When possible, use a continuous integration/delivery system to automate the deployment process.
– If you are manually deploying code, be sure to follow a consistent and well-documented process.
– Make sure to backup your code and database before making any changes.

6. What are some common mistakes that should be avoided when deploying code?

Some common mistakes that should be avoided when deploying code include:

– Not testing code changes thoroughly before deploying
– Not having a solid rollback plan in place in case of problems
– Not communicating with all stakeholders before and during the deployment process
– Not following best practices for security and permissions

7. What’s the difference between hot and cold deployments?

A hot deployment is one where the application is deployed while it is still running, and a cold deployment is one where the application is deployed when it is not running. A hot deployment is generally less disruptive, but a cold deployment may be necessary if there are significant changes being made to the application.

8. What’s the difference between blue-green and red-black deployments?

Blue-green deployments are a way of reducing downtime during deployments by having two identical production environments, one of which is live at any given time. The other environment is standing by, ready to be switched to if there are problems with the first. Red-black deployments are similar, but instead of having two identical environments, the second environment is a copy of the first that is updated with the new code changes. This way, if there are problems, the old code can be quickly rolled back.

9. What are canaries? Why are they used?

A canary is a type of test that is used to help ensure that a new software deployment will not cause any unexpected problems. Canaries are typically deployed to a small subset of users before being made available to everyone. This allows for any potential issues to be identified and resolved before they impact a large number of users.

10. What is a branch merge conflict? How does it happen?

A branch merge conflict is when two different branches of a project have both been changed, and those changes conflict with each other. This can happen when two people are working on the same project at the same time, and they make changes to the same files. When they try to merge their changes together, the conflict will occur.

11. What are three different ways to deploy code?

There are three primary ways to deploy code:

1. Manual deployment – This involves manually transferring files from a development environment to a production environment. This is typically done via FTP or some other file transfer protocol.

2. Automated deployment – This involves using a tool or script to automatically transfer files from a development environment to a production environment. This can be done using a tool like Capistrano, or by writing a custom script.

3. Continuous deployment – This involves automatically deploying code every time it is pushed to a central repository. This can be done using a tool like Jenkins or Travis CI.

12. What are some ways to automate deployments?

There are a few ways to automate deployments:

– Use a tool like Puppet or Chef to automate the process of provisioning and configuring servers.
– Use a tool like Ansible to automate the process of deploying code to servers.
– Use a tool like Jenkins to automate the process of building and testing code, and then deploying it to servers.

13. What is continuous delivery?

Continuous delivery is a software development practice in which code changes are automatically built, tested, and deployed to production, making new features available to users as soon as they are ready. This allows for faster feedback and shorter development cycles.

14. What is regression testing? When is it performed?

Regression testing is a type of testing that is used to verify that changes to a system or application have not caused any unintended effects. This type of testing is typically performed after any changes have been made to the system in order to ensure that the system is still functioning correctly.

15. Are there any differences in using branches for databases versus code repositories?

There can be some differences in using branches for databases versus code repositories, depending on the specific tools and processes being used. For example, with database deployments it is often necessary to take a more incremental approach, making small changes and then testing before deploying to production. With code repositories, it is often possible to deploy all of the code at once. Additionally, database deployments often need to be coordinated with other teams or processes, such as data entry or ETL jobs, to avoid conflicts or data loss.

16. What is feature flagging?

Feature flagging is a technique used in software development whereby a feature is wrapped in a flag or toggle that can be turned on or off. This allows developers to easily enable or disable features without having to redeploy their code. Feature flagging can be used to test new features with a subset of users before rolling them out to everyone, or to quickly disable a feature that is causing problems.

17. What is Agile Release Management?

Agile Release Management is a process that helps organizations manage and deliver software releases in an agile way. This means that software releases are planned and executed in a way that is flexible and responsive to changes.

18. What is feature branching?

Feature branching is a strategy for managing code changes. In feature branching, developers create a new branch for each new feature they are working on. Once the feature is complete, the branch is merged back into the main codebase. This allows developers to work on new features without affecting the main codebase, and also makes it easier to track and manage code changes.

19. What is trunk based development?

Trunk based development is a model for code development and deployment in which all code changes are made to a central code repository, or “trunk.” This approach is contrasted with other models, like feature branches, in which developers work on separate branches and then merge their changes into the main trunk. Trunk based development can simplify the development process and make it easier to track and manage code changes.

20. What is the purpose of version control systems like git or SVN?

Version control systems are used to track changes to files over time. This is especially important for software development, because it allows developers to easily revert back to previous versions of their code if they need to. Additionally, version control systems make it easy for multiple developers to work on the same codebase simultaneously without running into conflicts.