Release train

What it is

A release train is a fixed, scheduled cadence for shipping releases (e.g. every two weeks), rather than shipping whenever someone says “it’s ready.” Features that make the train ride; others wait for the next one.

Why it exists

A predictable cadence makes releases routine and low-risk: operations, stakeholders, and customers know when changes arrive; the pipeline is exercised regularly; rollback windows are understood. It balances velocity with stability.

Key ideas

• Fixed schedule — releases at regular intervals decouple from individual feature readiness.
• Predictability — everyone aligns to the rhythm.
• Combined with deployment strategies — the release train decides when; blue-green-deployment/canary-deployment decide how it’s rolled out.

Exam notes

• Release strategy = the plan/approach; release train = the cadence; release pipeline = the automation.
• Don’t confuse the three.

Related

cd · release-strategy · delivery-pipeline

📘 Source: Microsoft Learn — Release Train