--- title: "Software Release Timeline Template" description: "Plan a software release from scope through deployment with a practical 19-working-day schedule." canonical: "https://ganttfather.com/templates/software-release-timeline/" locale: "en" category: "product" --- # Software Release Timeline Template [Software & technology](https://ganttfather.com/templates/#software-technology) Project timeline template # Software Release Timeline Plan a software release from scope through deployment with a practical 19-working-day schedule. Best for planning and delivering a software release. [Use this template free](https://app.ganttfather.com/projects/new?template=software-release&entry=template-library) Your first project is included. Existing accounts stay subject to their available project capacity. ## A software release plan that makes handoffs visible before delivery pressure builds. Use this software release timeline template when a release needs a visible path from scope to deployment. It separates planning, build work, and launch checks so product, engineering, and QA can agree on scope, quality, and launch handoffs before work starts. The schedule starts with scope and backlog preparation, moves through implementation and QA planning, then closes with regression testing, release notes, and deployment. The approval and completion milestones make the decisions between those stages easy to find in the Gantt chart. This is a starting plan rather than a deployment system. After creating the project, assign owners, set the real dates, and add the environment-specific work that belongs to your team. Included schedule ## 13 rows, 7 links, already sequenced. A read-only preview of the published version. Click a bar, double-click it, or press Enter in the preview to inspect it. Read-only preview Milestone Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20 Day Define scope Prepare backlog Implement work Prepare QA plan Run regression testing Write release notes Day numbers are relative working days, not calendar dates. Set one start date and auto-scheduling resolves the rest. Read-only shared Gantt preview. Click or focus a bar and press Enter to inspect it. Schedule details ### Complete schedule table The same published schedule is available below as a semantic table for detailed review. Work item Type Schedule Duration Depends on Plan Phase Days 1–6 Derived rollup — Define scope Task Days 1–2 2 working days — Prepare backlog Task Days 3–5 3 working days Define scope Plan approved Milestone Day 6 Milestone Prepare backlog Build Phase Days 7–14 Derived rollup — Implement work Task Days 7–13 7 working days — Prepare QA plan Task Days 7–9 3 working days — Feature complete Milestone Day 14 Milestone Implement work, Prepare QA plan Launch Phase Days 15–20 Derived rollup — Run regression testing Task Days 15–18 4 working days — Write release notes Task Days 15–16 2 working days — Deploy release Task Day 19 1 working day Run regression testing, Write release notes Released Milestone Day 20 Milestone Deploy release ## Who it helps - Product managers coordinating a release - Engineering and QA leads aligning handoffs ## What is included - Scope and backlog preparation - Implementation and QA planning - Regression testing, release notes, and deployment ## Adapt it after creation - Set the start date to your release window - Rename work items for your product and owners - Add team-specific review or approval steps after creation How to use this template ## A practical path through the schedule. - 1 ### Confirm the release plan Define scope, prepare the backlog, and use the Plan approved milestone to establish what is ready to enter delivery. - 2 ### Coordinate build and quality work Run implementation alongside QA planning, then use Feature complete as the shared handoff into launch preparation. - 3 ### Ship with visible launch checks Sequence regression testing, release notes, deployment, and the release milestone so the final steps are not managed from memory. Not included ## Planning aid This template is a planning aid and does not replace your team's release, security, or deployment procedures. - Azure and GitHub links - CI/CD credentials - Environments - Release artifacts - Source repositories - Sprint capacity - Story points Template FAQ ## Answers before you start. What does this software release timeline template include? + It includes planning, implementation, QA preparation, regression testing, release notes, deployment, and release milestones arranged in one dependency-aware schedule. Who should use this release schedule? + It is a practical starting point for product managers, engineering leads, and QA leads who need one view of the handoffs required to ship a software release. Can this template be adapted for our release process? + Yes. After creating the project, set a real start date, assign owners, rename work for your product, and add your environment-specific approvals or deployment steps. Related templates ## Close cousins. [Templates →](https://ganttfather.com/templates/) [Marketing & growth 24 working days Marketing Campaign Timeline Coordinate brief, creative, launch QA, and performance review in a practical campaign schedule.](https://ganttfather.com/templates/marketing-campaign-timeline/)[Professional services 25 working days Client Delivery Plan Manage discovery, delivery, review, and handoff with a client-facing project timeline.](https://ganttfather.com/templates/client-delivery-plan/) ![](https://ganttfather.com/logo.png) ## Ready to adapt this schedule? Create an editable project, set a real start date, and make the plan your own. [Use this template free](https://app.ganttfather.com/projects/new?template=software-release&entry=template-library) Your first project is included. Existing accounts stay subject to their available project capacity.