Baselevels
Release divided into baselevels, 8-12 weeks apart.
Stable, working version with specific content.
Integration point to incorporate work from various technical efforts proceeding in parallel.
Early baselevels mostly enhancements. Later baselevels mostly bug fixing. Riskiest items are tackled as early as possible.
At the end of each baselevel, we freeze the code, apply labels, branch off for critical bug fixes, test, install inhouse for alpha testing.
Last 2 or 3 baselevels are shipped as beta and final releases.
Goal: integrate, test, and use changes as soon as possible.