Definition: Ramped deployment is a way of launching new software by first exposing it to a subset of users, then steadily increasing the number of users who get it. Its main purpose is to deploy, though it may include assessment along the way. Users may be hand-picked, or may know they are using a new system.
So what? A ramp turns a risky all-at-once release into a series of smaller steps. Each step gives the team a chance to spot problems before everyone is affected.
Examples: Releasing code internally, then to a small external group, then to all users. Increasing the share of traffic sent to a new version over several days while watching error rates.
