What is the best way to deploy Apps in Qlik Sense Enterprise version

[wardzynski]

I will go and ask this openly and see what are the best ideas I get from experts in the community.

I am working on a Qlik Sense Enterprise server where most of the testing (UAT), development has been done on the very same server unfortunately also serving as the Production environment. I am experienced in Qlikview and now getting up and running in the Qlik Sense Environment.

What we need to do is clean the environment, but also move the most relevant Applications from this mixed environment (Prod, Uat, Dev) first to a DEV environment, then to the UAT and finally to a cleaned up PROD environment.

I am looking into governance applications, such as Qlik Sense Governance Collector,(Qlik Branch), but also into a Qlik deployment framework. Maybe also Qlik Sense QMC utilities?

What is the best and easiest approach to do this without introducing to much complications.

We have many applications that have data connections to DBs as well as excel files.

We have different streams, and we have different departments having access to different Streams.

I would need some help with role definitions, defining responsibilities, but also best practice on moving applications with their data connections, extensions, 2 layers of apps (QVD generators as well as Front-End apps) and to make it more complicated we use Mashups on top of that, that are integrated with a website portal.

All your advice is highly appreciated!

[jpk]

Hi Daniel

Totally understand your situation and you are certainly on the right track with a good understanding of the pitfalls one way or another.

I would definitely recommend the WIP: Work-In-Progress product from ebiexperts - www.ebiexperts.com.

It integrates to Qlik Sense server API and takes care of all your central configurations for publications and source control, but have a bunch of great features like request lifecycle management, quality control, audits, collaboration etc. You can download the brochures from the site once registered.

WIP is being launched next week with some customer and partner webinars so you can find the information from the news section.

Regards

JP

[johanlindell]

Hi Daniel,

I have made a "simple" solution if you need to have all apps on one server (which is often the case for smaller customers / installations). All apps that are in development are suffixed " DEV" and all apps in test (UAT) are suffixed " TEST".

We set up three QDF-folders, Development, Test and Production.

We create three different Data connections, one for Development, one for Test and one for Production.

And at last we have a general script that is included in each app where you check the suffix of the app name. Based upon the app name suffix we set a variable pointing to the "right" QDF folder.

This way you can "version" extract, transform and user-apps into three "separate" environment on the same server.

We set up different streams for test and production apps.

Brgds

Johan

[wbmuller]

I second this, highly recommended. WIP will take care of all your qlik environment management needs.

[Anonymous]

‌Hi Johan

We used this approach at beginning but there is various issues with it as if we have different versions of the servers

Also we finished having each developper with one app version on it's work folder and never got sure to modify the correct one.

The publish where also erratic as we overwrite each other work a couple of times.

Few time ago we switched to Version Manager  (WIP ancestors) and it solved all problems.

In addition we have publication history and can rollback packages very easily. The compare and data lineage features are also useful.

They have just released WIP that is full web angular and introduce collaboration and DevOps features that we love

Take a look to the product its a must have

Thomas

[Anonymous]

We received also the pricing, very interesting as only 66€ monthly subscription. No server, core CPU or features prices great....

‌

[johanlindell]

Hi Thomas,

Yes, it's a "simple" low-end solution but it works fine with one or a just a few developers. I know that you can allow edits of published apps, but you can't publishe a published app. Due to this you can't develop in a published app (like a development stream) and then publish this app to a new stream (like a UAT stream). I do hope that Qlik at some point let's you republish a published app (like from UAT to Prod). Right now you have to copy a UAT-app to you work environmenta and then publish the copy. It's very inconvinient (although there are some powershell scripting that can automate it). If you are many developers working on the same apps you definately need some very clear routines and set up som powershell scripting or look at some 3rd party tool. I'll check out the WIP-tool.

Have a great weekend, folks. It's Friday!

Johan

[wardzynski]

Tack Johan!
This is a good solution for a smaller environment, we are creating an Environment for the future for a big team of developers working for different divisions across the organisation. We need the best of the best out there. So far I have been exploring the Qlik Deployment Framework and the native functionality of Qlik Sense Management Control, we need more.

[wardzynski]

Hi Thomas,

What is the price based on, unlimited licenses?

Thanks

[luismadriz]

Thanks for sharing John. I'll  keep an eye on them... although I know I'll have problems selling the idea here of a product called "work in progress"

We're new to QSE and struggling with models for Governance and SDLC in our migration from SAPBO to QSE

I think management may decide to continue with mashups until Qlik matures and develops a better Enterprise edition...

Cheers,

Luis