Baseline

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A Baseline is an approved and uniquely identifiable configuration of one or more Configuration Management items established at a defined point in their lifecycle.

A Baseline provides a controlled reference against which later configurations, changes, implementations, deployments, assessments, or results can be compared.

A Baseline may identify source revisions, requirements, models, software, machine images, infrastructure definitions, dependencies, compliance settings, operating procedures, evidence, or combinations of these items.

An organization changes a Baseline through an authorized change process. Creating a later Baseline does not alter the identity or content of the earlier Baseline.

approved and uniquely identifiable configuration of one or more configuration items established at a defined point in their lifecycle

Generalized from systems engineering, software engineering, quality management, and configuration-management usage and specialized for the Crucible architecture and operational model.

A Baseline is more than the latest available version. It identifies a configuration that an authorized process has selected and placed under change control.

Different baselines may exist for requirements, architecture, software, machine images, infrastructure, compliance, deployment, and operations.

A software factory establishes a Baseline containing pinned source revisions, a hardened machine image, an infrastructure definition, a compliance profile, approved dependencies, and associated evidence. Later changes produce a new Baseline while preserving the earlier Baseline for comparison and reproduction.