You're facing last-minute critical bugs before a mobile app launch. How will you ensure a successful rollout?

When time is tight, prioritize fixing critical bugs that impact app stability, such as crashes, freezes, or security vulnerabilities. These issues are non-negotiable as they directly affect user experience and the app's reliability. Ensuring core functionalities work seamlessly should be your top priority before launch. For less critical bugs that don't disrupt main features or pose immediate risks, document them for future updates. While these issues are important, they can wait until after the initial release. This approach ensures you deliver a stable product on time while planning for ongoing improvements post-launch.

To ensure a successful rollout despite last-minute critical bugs: - Prioritize Issues: Focus on fixing the most critical bugs that impact core functionality and user experience. - Communicate Transparently: Keep stakeholders informed about the status of the bugs and potential impacts on the launch. - Implement a Hotfix Plan: Prepare for emergency fixes and a rapid deployment process for critical issues. - Conduct Quick Testing: Perform essential testing on bug fixes to ensure they don’t introduce new issues. - Prepare for Rollback: Have a rollback plan ready in case the fixes cause further problems. - Update Documentation: Ensure release notes reflect the current state of the app and any known issues.

I will stop the rollout because user is important to us, I can't harm my user and due to this problem user will delete and uninstall the app. Even if it takes some more time, we will test it and upload it again

In a situation like this, staying calm and focus on the priorities is the key to success. I have faced these events multiple time and below are the points i consider for a successful rollout despite last minute critical bug: - Look up for the bug that is critical and might crash the app or major functionalities. - Assign them to the respective member of team with that particular expertise. - Implement a hotfix , that will make the app stable for that particular build. -Run last minute tests on that build. -Always keep the last build backup for the plan B i.e. ROLLBACK.

Identify and categorize bugs based on their severity and impact on the app's core functionality. Focus on fixing critical bugs that affect the user experience and essential features first to ensure the app remains usable and functional.

Conduct quick but comprehensive testing for each fix to verify it resolves the problem without introducing new issues. Utilize automated tests where possible and run targeted manual tests to ensure the app performs as expected under various conditions.

Implement rapid testing cycles to quickly validate fixes. Use automated testing tools to expedite the process, and conduct manual tests for areas that require more attention. Make sure to test on different devices and platforms to ensure compatibility.

After fixes are applied, I ensure rigorous, targeted testing on affected areas to confirm that the bugs are resolved and no new issues have been introduced. This helps maintain the app's integrity and prevents further delays. I also leverage automation and end-to-end (E2E) tests to streamline the process and ensure comprehensive coverage.

Your test plan should be broken up in to: 1. Critical Path 2. Functional Testing 3. Exploratory Testing QA should try to have automation written in end-to-end fashion for critical path test cases. These are the tests that need to be run every deploy to make sure no regressions were introduced and current features don't break. End-to-end tests in software like Playwright or Cypress simulate user flows and should be visible to the team on what they cover. If business needs are pressing, wait for the critical path test suite to pass (manually or automated) and then deploy with other issues/bugs reported for fast-follow later. This should be followed by individual functional tests on the app, and then later exploratory testing.

1) If possible disable the broken functionality for the time being. 2) Communicate it clearly to stakeholders. 3) Go live with other working functionality. 4) Engage the team fix the issue in background.

During the final stages of a mobile app launch, we encountered critical bugs that threatened to delay the release. I knew clear communication was crucial. I immediately informed the team and stakeholders about the issues, providing regular updates on our progress, the expected delays, and how it might impact the launch. By being transparent, we built trust and fostered a collaborative approach to problem-solving. When it became clear a slight delay was unavoidable, I communicated this honestly to our users. The result? Users appreciated my transparency, and the app launched successfully with strong support and positive feedback.

1-Quickly evaluate and prioritize the bug based on its severity and risk poses to the launch. 2-Allocate a skilled team to address the issue immediately. 3- inform stakeholders on the bug and resolution progress 4- Work on a fix or workaround as quickly as possible. Ensure thorough testing to confirm the bug is resolved and that the fix does not introduce new issues. 6- Have a rollback plan ready if the fix fails.

Maintain clear and open communication with your team, stakeholders, and users. Inform them about the issues, what is being done to resolve them, and any potential impacts on the release schedule. Transparency helps manage expectations and build trust.

Keep all stakeholders informed about the status of the bug fixes and the impact on the launch timeline. Clear communication helps manage expectations and ensures everyone is aligned on the next steps.

Adjust the release plan to reflect the new priorities and timelines. This may involve postponing non-critical features or updates to focus on fixing the urgent bugs. A realistic and updated roadmap ensures the team remains aligned and focused on the most critical tasks.

Adjust your project roadmap and timelines based on the bug fixes and testing results. Be realistic about what can be achieved before the launch and plan for post-launch updates if necessary.

Adjust the project roadmap based on the latest developments. This includes revising deadlines and milestones to accommodate the bug fixes and testing results. Ensure the updated roadmap reflects realistic expectations and keeps the project on track.

Work with your product owners and managers to fit the newly found issues in the roadmap for upcoming sprints based on severity and impact. Known issues can be published on user facing product update pages so the end users/customers know that the issue has been found and is going to be addressed in a later update.

Perform stress testing to evaluate the app's performance under extreme conditions, such as high user load or limited resources. This helps identify potential weaknesses that could cause issues during peak usage times and ensures the app can handle real-world usage scenarios.

Conduct stress testing to identify any performance issues that could arise under high user load. This helps ensure that the app can handle real-world usage scenarios without crashing or slowing down.

Often times a staging/testing environment won't be able to exactly replicate behavior that a production environment would due to resourcing and cost. It's vital to test how the app operates under heavy load. It's important to collaborate with SRE's at this stage of testing.

I worked with a former Marine who preached “2 is 1 and 1 is none”, meaning if you don’t have a backup plan, then you really have no plan at all. Proper release handling at the source control level is critical here to ensure you have a “known good” point to restore to.

Develop a contingency plan in case the rollout encounters unexpected problems. This could include having a rollback strategy to revert to a previous stable version or preparing hotfixes to quickly address any new issues that arise. A solid back-up plan minimizes downtime and user disruption.

Having a rollback plan in place always helps the team remain composed in times of crisis. One effective strategy is to utilize Git tags and semantic versioning for each new release. Implementing a robust version control plan can greatly assist in managing and mitigating unforeseen issues.

Develop a contingency plan to address potential issues during the rollout. This includes having a rollback strategy ready to revert to a previous stable version if critical problems arise. Please make sure you have resources and procedures in place to handle any emergencies quickly.