Code Freeze

Definitions

1. A period during which no new code changes are merged to the release branch — only critical bug fixes are allowed. Common before major releases, during holiday seasons (to reduce on-call risk), and before compliance audits. Prevents last-minute regressions but can frustrate developers with pending changes.

   In plain English: A period where no new code changes are allowed, to stabilize the system before a release or high-risk period.

   Example: "Code freeze starts December 15th — no deploys over the holidays unless it's a P0 fix approved by the on-call lead."

Related Terms

• toil
• Deployment
• Exit Code
• Incident Management
• Logging
• On-Call Rotation
• Release Train
• Incident Playbook