What is typically included in a baseline?

A baseline in software engineering generally serves as a reference point for the development process. It encompasses crucial components that define the current state of a project. In this context, the inclusion of component versions, libraries, and configuration files is essential. This information allows teams to track specific details about the software components in use at any given time, ensuring consistency throughout the development lifecycle.

By establishing a baseline that includes these elements, teams can effectively manage changes, assess the impact of new developments, and retain a clear historical account of what was used at specific points in the project. This is particularly important in collaborative environments where multiple developers may be working on various aspects of the project.

While testing requirements, user documentation, and deployment protocols are important to the overall project, they do not constitute the foundational technical details that a baseline strives to capture. Component versions and configurations are strictly about the technical specifications and state of the software, making them vital to the baseline concept.