Problem scenario
You want to have a release. You are concerned that if new code changes are made to the main branch of the relevant repository that the upcoming production release will have a problem. You are not sure if you should allow changes to take place or if should you have a code freeze. Is it a best/recommended practice to have a code freeze going into the release weekend?
Answer
Maybe. It is not clear. For the "Yes" code freezes are recommended:
- The DevOps Handbook (on page 150) refers to a problem associated with allowing code changes to happen right before a production release; the solution ended up being that only emergency situations would allow for a change to the code close to the production release.
- This external site explains how a code freeze can help during critical ecommerce shopping days. It says "[a] code freeze is the perfect time to test and optimize to drive higher sales."
For the "No" code freezes are not recommended:
- Continuous Delivery (on page 408) refers to a code freeze as an evil practice.
- This external site recommends avoiding code freezes.
For mixed reviews on code freezes, see these postings: