How data flows in UCM projects

In multiple-stream projects, general data flow proceeds as follows:

  • Activities are delivered.
  • Baselines are created.
  • Streams are rebased.

Activities on a project migrate from many development streams, which identify and isolate the work of individual developers, to a common target stream. Eventually, all work is delivered to a single integration stream. (See the figure below.)

Two small triangles represent development streams. Beside them, one medium-sized triangle represents an integration stream. Activities are deliver from the development streams to the integration stream. Below the streams is the lower half of a large triangle that contains a cube. The cube shows different versions of elements being selected in a baseline labeled Baseline BL1.

The integration stream identifies a shared set of versions to be used for projectwide building and testing.

Project managers collect into baselines the activities delivered to a target stream or to the integration stream. (See the figure below.)

The lower half of a triangle contains a cube that shows different versions of elements being selected in a baseline labeled Baseline BL1. To the right, a triangle represents an integration stream, and it contains activity change sets. Below this triangle is the lower half of a triangle that contains a cube. Arrows point from the activity change sets to the cube. The cube shows Baseline BL1 inactive, and it shows newer versions of elements being selected in a baseline labeled Baseline BL2, now the active baseline.

The project managers characterize specific baselines that include stable and significant changes as recommended.

Developers rebase their development work areas to see the new work identified by the recommended baselines. (See the figure below.)

Two small triangles made from dotted lines represent development streams before the rebase. Below these triangles is the lower half of a large triangle that contains a cube that shows versions selected in Baseline BL1. To the right, two small triangles made from solid lines represent the rebased development stream. Below these triangles is the lower half of a large triangle that contains a cube that shows versions selected in Baseline BL1 and Baseline BL2, with Baseline BL2 being the active baseline.

After rebasing, a development work area shows the versions specified by the baseline, plus any of your undelivered activities.