Add Launch checklist

benjamin melançon 2026-01-10 03:37:16 +00:00
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_Template for a launch checklist; add this as a new issue for all new projects in their issue queue and modify._
## Launch Checklist
_If the new site is a **migration**, include:_
* [ ] Create a back up of site files and database
* [ ] Give client access to the archive site
* [ ] Migrate redirects
* [ ] If possible, keep IDs for entities, especially those that did not have path aliases (check users, taxonomy terms)
* [ ] Run automated checker to see if all paths on old site are reachable (not 404) on new site: gitlab.com/agaric/resources/website-checkers
_For all sites:_
### 2 Months Before
* [ ] Ensure content staging plan is in place
* [ ] Get control of DNS and domain name registration
* [ ] Discuss and put in place a monthly site maintenance plan with client
* [ ] Ensure server ip is not blacklisted (https://www.apivoid.com/tools/ip-reputation-check/)
* [ ] Are basic usability improvements in place? (TODO move to its own checklist)
* [ ] Allow login by e-mail as well as username (if normal people will be logging into the site)
* [ ] Begin regular accessibility review of site and its content. If on Drupal, install [Editoria11y module](https://www.drupal.org/project/editoria11y).
* [ ] Check default RSS feed (`rss.xml`) which will be showing the same as `/node` even if that view is disabled and set 'Promoted to Front page` defaults for each content type so this main RSS feed makes sense.
* [ ] Create other RSS feeds for key views (news, events)
* [ ] Make links to RSS feeds accessible via "Want my RSS" style finders at least, and ideally with links / pages on the site that explain RSS
### 1 Month Before
* [ ] Ensure live server is ready
* [ ] Increase the PHP maximum post and file upload sizes as appropriate (for example to allow 6MB files, rather than default 2MB)
* [ ] Run header analysis and correct issues, https://dri.es/headers
* [ ] HTTP redirects to HTTPS
* [ ] Configure cron
* [ ] Upload favicon
* [ ] Backups configured and can be retrieved
* [ ] Choose, set up if needed, and set sitewide e-mail address at `/admin/config/system/site-information` **_and_** `/admin/config/people/accounts`
* [ ] E-mail test to ensure sending from server works
* [ ] Check DKAN, DMARC, SPF rules for if needed for new server
* [ ] Obtain access to applicable analytics platforms (for example have ben.agaric and other team members added to Google Analytics)
* [ ] Revisit goals and KPIs, ensure everything is in place to measure those (eg: analytics, survey drafted)
* [ ] Check in on client about content staging
* [ ] Implement plan for training and remaining documentation
### 2 Weeks Before
* [ ] Prepare for instant domain switchover (same server, Cloudflare, or decrease TTL)
* [ ] Ensure new domain is in `trusted_host_patterns`
* [ ] Check in on client and content staging
* [ ] Document anything remaining
* [ ] Train client
* [ ] Send client any documentation they will need to maintain site
* [ ] Enable/configure analytics
* [ ] Enable CSS and JS aggregation
* [ ] Check that syslog is enabled and working, disable dblog
### 1 Week Before
* [ ] Finalize launch date and time
* [ ] Review site documentation with client
* [ ] Ensure modules are using latest releases
* [ ] Check the site's status report at `/admin/reports/status`
* [ ] Finalize blog post announcing site launch
* [ ] Add site to uptime monitoring such as uptimerobot.com
* [ ] Re-test
### Day of Launch
* [ ] SSL Certificate configured
* [ ] Ensure no http auth gating or 'no robots' files are left from the testing phase
* [ ] Switch 'on' domain (web server symlink, Cloudflare, or DNS)
* [ ] Ensure e-mail addresses still work (and are not casualties of DNS changes)
### Immediately After Launch
* [ ] Check DKIM, DMARC, SPF rules for if needed for new server using select SPF on https://mxtoolbox.com/SuperTool.aspx
* [ ] Ensure article photos are appearing correctly on social media.
* [ ] Ensure all redirects are functioning as expected. Nothing should fall through to an archive instance, unless it is explicitly legacy content that was not/will not be migrated
* [ ] Ensure sitemap.xml is being processed by search engines, if present. Also ensure no prior sitemap.xml is being sourced from the archive site via 404 redirect, etc.
* [ ] Modify redirects as appropriate (once verified working) to ensure 301's are used as needed.
* [ ] Review the site's status report at `/admin/reports/status`
### A Few Days After Launch
* [ ] Monitor analytics
* [ ] Assess client satisfaction with site
### Two weeks after launch
* [ ] Celebrate launch
### Month After Launch
* [ ] Review Goals & KPIs