Create Deployment Package Dialog

1 Introduction

With this dialog box, you can create a deployment package. A deployment package can be deployed on the Developer Portal or on a server that is configured to run Mendix software. While developing you can deploy and run on your local machine, but once you are ready to deploy your project on a real server you will need to create a deployment package.

To open the Create Deployment Package dialog box, go to Project > Create Deployment Package.

2 Versioned

If you select Yes for Versioned, a versioned deployment package is built from a fresh download of a specific revision in the Team Server. This means that you can always trace its origin and recreate it.

If you select No for Versioned, an unversioned deployment package will be built based on your local project on disk. An unversioned deployment package cannot be traced back to a specific revision. Therefore, Mendix recommends creating versioned deployment packages unless you have very good reasons.

3 Development Line (for Versioned)

Choose the Development line for which you want to create a deployment package. This can be the main line or any branch line. For example, you create a package from a maintenance branch line if your want to put a fix you implemented there online. Or you create a deployment package from the main line because you are ready to deploy the next big version of your application.

4 Revision (for Versioned)

Choose the Revision of the selected development line for which you want to create a deployment package. This is not necessarily the latest revision because you might want to exclude some recently developed functionality.

5 New Version (for Versioned)

Choose a New version for the deployment package. The version consists of four numbers: Major version, Minor version, Patch, and Revision. The revision is fixed and determined by the revision you selected for Revision.

You are free to choose the other numbers, but it is wise to use a convention for the numbering. Major versions typically contain major new features or rewrites of existing features. A minor version contains small new features and fixes. A patch solves minor issues and should not change the data model of the application. A patch release should be interchangeable with another patch release with no changes to the data.

The Desktop Modeler will show you the latest version that you created a package for (if any). You can increase major, minor, or patch according to the convention you use.

6 Description (for Versioned)

You can enter a custom Description for this deployment package. It is purely for your own reference so that you can quickly recognize a package. The Developer Portal will show you this description along with the version number.

7 Disk Location

This shows the location where the deployment package will be placed. This is not editable. All packages are placed in a directory called releases inside your project directory. This directory is automatically ignored so that these packages will not be committed to the repository. You can always recreate a deployment package (assuming you have the Desktop Modeler version you used) so there is no need to put them on the Team Server.