Execution Environment
Discussion
An Execution Environment provides the computing, operating-system, runtime, storage, networking, security, and configuration resources required to execute software.
The environment may include physical machines, virtual machines, containers, cloud resources, operating-system services, runtime libraries, configuration data, secrets, and external service connections.
An Execution Environment differs from a Target Environment. An Execution Environment identifies the resources in which software executes. A Target Environment identifies the environment selected to receive a particular build, deployment, or release.
A single Execution Environment may support multiple software products, services, or workloads. A single product may also execute across multiple Execution Environments.
Definition
environment that provides the computing, runtime, storage, networking, security, and configuration resources required to execute software
Source
Generalized from software engineering, systems engineering, cloud computing, and runtime-platform usage and specialized for the Crucible architecture and operational model.
Note
An Execution Environment may operate as a Connected Environment, Disconnected Environment, or Air-Gapped Environment.
The term does not prescribe a physical machine, virtual machine, container, cloud service, or deployment technology.
Example
A hardened virtual machine with an approved operating system, runtime libraries, network configuration, security controls, and application settings provides the Execution Environment for a deployed service.
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