Method and system for utilizing change packages

Abstract

Systems and methods described herein may generate a change package comprising one or more changes to a configuration of a segment. The change package may comprise a separate entry for each segment. Each entry may comprise each change associated with the respective segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 performing processing associated with receiving, with an editor module in communication with a processor, a first change to a configuration associated with a first segment;   performing processing associated with applying, with the editor module, the first change;   performing processing associated with receiving, with the editor module, a second change to the configuration associated with a second segment;   performing processing associated with applying, with the editor module, the second change;   performing processing associated with generating, with a tracking module in communication with the processor, a change package comprising the first change and the second change, the change package comprising a separate entry for each segment, each entry including each change associated with the respective segment; and   performing processing associated with storing, with the tracking module, the change package in a database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change package comprises a software component ID, a head version specification, a basis version specification, a transaction number, or an expiration, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing processing associated with identifying, with a variance module in communication with the processor, a logical change associated with the change package; and   performing processing associated with creating, with the variance module, a change package variant comprising the logical change.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising performing processing associated with applying, with the editor module, the change package variant to a second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the applying comprises performing processing associated with selecting, with the editor module, the change package variant from among a plurality of change package variants within the configuration, the change package variant being a most recent of the plurality of change package variants within the configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 performing processing associated with analyzing, with a merging module in communication with the processor, a second configuration to identify a change necessary before applying the change package variant;   performing processing associated with changing, with the merging module, the second configuration according to the identified changes; and   performing processing associated with applying, with the editor module, the change package variant to the second configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising performing processing associated with analyzing, with the variance module, a second configuration to determine whether it is compatible with the change package variant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the analysis includes determining whether the second configuration includes every element required to apply the change package variant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 when the second configuration is compatible, performing processing associated with applying, with the editor module, the change package variant to the second configuration; and   when the second configuration is not compatible, the change package variant is not applied.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising performing processing associated with creating, with a patching module in communication with the processor, a patch comprising the change package variant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing processing associated with reverting, with a reverting module in communication with the processor, the first change or the second change. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing processing associated with generating, with a diffing module in communication with the processor, a comparison of at least two configuration versions; and   performing processing associated with displaying, with the diffing module, the comparison on a display.   
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a database;   a processor in communication with the database;   an editor module in communication with the processor, the editor module configured to:
 perform processing associated with receiving a first change to a configuration associated with a first segment; 
 perform processing associated with applying the first change; 
 performing processing associated with receiving a second change to the configuration associated with a second segment; and 
 perform processing associated with applying the second change; and 
   a tracking module in communication with the processor, the tracking module configured to:
 perform processing associated with generating a change package comprising the first change and the second change, the change package comprising a separate entry for each segment, each entry including each change associated with the respective segment; and 
 perform processing associated with storing the change package in a database. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the change package comprises a software component ID, a head version specification, a basis version specification, a transaction number, or an expiration, or a combination thereof.