Software Configuration Management
URL: https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/software-configuration-management.html

Software configuration management applies configuration management throughout the software life cycle so that configuration items stay complete and correct.

The definition cited by the Guide describes configuration management as a discipline that identifies and records the functional and physical characteristics of a configuration item, controls changes to those characteristics, records and reports the status of change processing and implementation, and verifies compliance with specified requirements. Software configuration management supports project management, development and maintenance activities, and quality assurance.[^s1]


The Guide's top-level topics for this knowledge area are:

- Management of the SCM Process
- Software Configuration Identification
- Software Configuration Change Control
- Software Configuration Status Accounting
- Software Configuration Auditing
- Software Release Management and Delivery
- Software Configuration Management Tools

Configuration-management standards named in the Guide's appendix include [IEEE Std 828-2012](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/works/ieee-std-828-2012-6170933.html).[^s1]

Updated: 2026-11-02

Relations:
- Broader concepts: Software Engineering https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/software-engineering.html

Mentioned in:
- Software Engineering https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/software-engineering.html

Sources:
- Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK Guide) v4.0a https://ieeecs-media.computer.org/media/education/swebok/swebok-v4.pdf Chapter 8; Appendix B