Blue-Green and Canary Releases
Blue-green and canary releases are two proven techniques for deploying changes safely. Both let us test a new version against real conditions while limiting the blast radius if something is wrong.
Choosing between them is about how cautious you want to be and how quickly you want everyone on the new version.
Two Different Strategies
A blue-green release keeps two identical environments and switches all traffic from one to the other. A canary release sends a small slice of users to the new version first, then expands gradually if all looks well.
| Strategy | How it works | Rollback | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Green | Switch all traffic at once | Instant switch back | You want a clean, fast cut-over |
| Canary | Release to a few users first | Stop the rollout | You want to test on real traffic gently |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these be combined with feature flags?
Yes. Flags give even finer control, letting us enable a feature for specific users within a canary group.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.