This book is not supposed to be a primer in configuration management. It does, however, start with an introduction to fundamental principles, to establish a basic understanding of the concepts used. The main part of the book discusses more advanced issues encountered when configuration management has to be implemented. The overall purpose of the book is twofold:

·        To scare those who are engaging in configuration management! The book will give the reader an understanding of the complexity and comprehensiveness of the discipline. Configuration management is not easy! If you think it is, you'll be unable to solve its tasks in a professional way.

·        To assuage the fear of those who are engaging in configuration management! The book will provide a fundamental understanding of the principles of the discipline, their interrelations and usage. Configuration management is not difficult! All you have to do is do it. If you understand it, it's much easier to specify and plan so it fulfills its purpose and becomes manageable.

It's assumed that the reader has some knowledge of other disciplines within software development, such as planning, design, test, and quality assurance.