Backward Compatibility

[Vinodh__Kannan__Krishnan]

Blue Prism has frequent releases with very little gap between releases. To add to this agony the releases are not backward compatible.

BP 6.7 client cannot talk with a BP 6.8 App/DB Server, it is also vice versa - BP 6.8 client cannot talk with a BP 6.7 App/DB Server. While we can understand a compatibility issue between BP 5 and BP 6, compatibility issues within a major release (BP 6.6,6.7 with 6.8) exposes poor product architecture/design.

Request to consider the following:
1. Have a fixed release pattern - twice a year with 6 months  gap in between gives ample time for clients to plan/prepare
2. Redesign the product so that there is backward compatibility.

Without these two, clients will not be able to keep themselves abreast with the product innovations eventually leading to moving off to other RPA tools.

Uploading BP 6 Release dates for reference of frequency.

[LubosG]

Would it be possible for new versions of BluePrism to connect to older version BP servers?
I do understand why old version would not be able to connect to new server, but the other way around should be very possible and with multiple environments, where production is usually upgraded the last I believe the ability of new version to connect to older server would be incredibly helpful.

[Jonas]

Yes, I totally agree. In our setup we have DEV/TEST/PROD environments, and during the upgrade cycle it can get quite complicated as there always is a moment where nobody can access all environments at the same time, at least not without reinstalling the client repeatedly.

[LubosG]

There is a way of having multiple BP clients functional on one machine. Not sure if it works with all versions, but it does with 6.5 and 6.8. Simply have to install them in different folders.

[_Amlansahoo]

Much needed feature I guess.

[HarshitRawat]

couldn't agree more

[JerryLI]

From the Enterprise Robotic Process Automation software point of view, this is one of "must have" feature.

[GleydsonFerreir]

There are other tools out there that have multiple version compatibility AND you can upgrade your robots centrally, without going to the VMS themselves... THAT is an enterprise level. For now I can just hope BP sees this as opportunity, because it is a pain to migrate/upgrade versions.

[MelanieGiuliani]

Hi Vinodh, 

Thanks so much for submitting your idea! We are moving it into the Under Consideration status while we route the idea through our internal review process. 

We will update you as your idea moves along the lifecycle.

Thank you!
Melanie 

[ykoike]

I hope that can be multi version install to the Interactive Client.

@LubosG
I could not multi version install to my BP Client. Could you please let me know how to do that?​

[LubosG]

@ykoike​
Sure. Normally the version that is already installed in its default folder, simply rename the folder e.g. "Blue Prism Automate 6.6", so the new version does not overwrite it.
And then simply install the new version.
Both versions share the connection configuration so that needs to be compatible.